Rare French Musical Automaton "Lady at Her Dressing Mirror" Attributed to Vichy

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23" (58 cm.) Standing alongside her easel wooden mirror is a bisque head lady with brown glass paperweight eyes, painted lashes and brows, rose blushed eye shadow, closed mouth, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, carton torso and legs, metal upper arms, bisque forearms, elegant silk and woolen evening dress and holding a mirror in one hand and powder puff in the other. When wound, music plays, and the lady leans forward, gazing at her image, powdering her nose, and finally proudly standing tall for a final look at herself. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism and music function well. Marks: (original label of Au Magasin des Enfants). Comments: French, circa 1875, attributed to Gustav Vichy and presented at the luxury Parisian toy store Au Magasin des Enfants at Passage de l'Opera; the bisque portrait head by Jumeau. Value Points: splendid presentation of elegant lady with exquisite costume, wig and with original finely detailed mirror. The automaton is featured in the book The Rose Unfolds by Rosalie Whyel and Susan Hedrick, page 69.