French Musical Automaton "Crying Child with Polichinelle" by Leopold Lambert

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20" (51 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden base is a bisque head doll with highly-dramatized features depicting a crying child, very narrow blue glass eyes, dark eyeliner, brushstroked brows, long painted lashes, accented eye corners and nostrils, closed mouth modeled as though open in crying expression, shaded lips, row of painted teeth, sculpted tongue, pierced ears, original blonde mohair wig over cork pate, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, bisque forearms. A miniature toy Polichinelle dangles from her right hand. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism and music function well. Marks: 211 (head) L.B. (key) (original paper music tune under base). Comments: Leopold Lambert, circa 1892, with art character bisque head especially commissioned from Emile Jumeau to depict this childhood scene; when wound, the doll sequentially turns her head, and lifts the "broken" Polichinelle up and down. Value Points: luxury presentation of the wonderful doll-themed automaton, with original silk brocade costume, especially melodious tune, and rare character face with original "tear".