A pair of dolls representing an adult man and woman, each with wax over paper mache face, are posed in formal waltzing position on a wooden base under a glass dome, their arms in dance position with palms backward at hips. The woman has blue enamel eyes, pale complexion, and carton upper torso attached to metal cone underskirt that contains the mechanical device, with three spoked wheels. She is wearing a rose silk gown with gold paper trim on the skirt, ivory and green silk jacket with yellow soutache embroidery, and a double strand of tiny pearls. The man has brown enamel eyes, darker complexion, modeled moustache and is attached to the woman by a metal rod at the torso. He is wearing rose silk shirt, green silk pants, yellow soutache trim, rose kid leather boots. Signed Theroude Paris and Brevete SGDG on brass medallions on cone skirt. Movements: they twirl round and round, then slow, pause, twirl again, and then glide forward. A keynote historical automaton and a favorite of Christian Bailly, the Waltzing Couple of Theroude combines ingenious construction, artistic presentation, and realistic movements. The larger size is extremely rare. According to a juror at the London Exposition of 1862 the works of Theroude had "incontestable superiority". Alexandre Theroude. France. Circa 1850. 20" (51 cm). Waltzing movements. Two tunes. Exhibits: Bagatelle,Paris,1993.