French Musical Automaton "Smiling Girl with Birdcage" by Leopold Lambert

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18" (46 cm.) Standing upon a maroon velvet-covered base is a bisque-headed doll with bisque shoulderplate, blue glass paperweight inset eyes, long painted lashes, brushstroked and multi-feathered brows, closed mouth in wide beaming smile with defined teeth, shaded and accented lips, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, bisque forearms, holding a gilded wooden and metal birdcage with tiny bird. When wound, the doll turns her head from side to side, alternately moving the cage forward and back, and appearing to tease the bird with the branch of cherries she holds in her hand. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 203 (incised) Depose Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG (stamped) (original music label on base). Comments: Leopold Lambert, circa 1890, with character series model head by Jumeau. Value Points: rare character face model perfectly enhances the mischievous happy mood of the automaton, wearing original blue silk dress with velour cherries, and with appropriate music box tune "Le Petit Vin de Bordeaux".