Automata

Musical Automaton "The lady with bouquet of flowers"

    Musical Automaton "The lady with bouquet of flowers"

    France

    Circa 1890

    Bisque, papier-mâché, fabric, wood, metal, lace, hair; sewing, painting, joinery, mechanical work

    49 x 20 x 13 cm, weight 2 kg

    Inscriptions on the nape: “622 / 310”

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    The automaton is designed as a figure of a lady mounted on rectangular wooden base. The base is fully covered in burgundy velvet and stands on four turned legs. The head and hands of the lady are made of bisque porcelain with marks on the nape. Her face features plump cheeks, black glass eyes, painted eyebrows and eyelashes, and a half-open mouth revealing small teeth.

    The control mechanism and the musical movement, featuring a comb, a program cylinder, and a spring-driven motor, are housed within the base. A winding hole is located on the rear side, and an on/off switch button is positioned on the right side.
    When the spring is wound and the mechanism is activated, a melody plays as the lady raises her right hand holding the bouquet toward her face, lowers her hand, and smoothly turns her head from side to side. The actions then repeat with the musical accompaniment.


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    2096/ММП