France, Paris

1907

Gaston Decamps

Papier-mache, wood, metal, fabric; embroidery, mechanical works, carpentry

Height 92 сm

The girl is wearing an open dress of fine peach blossom fabric embellished with sequins, pearls and embroidered with metallic threads. Wide scarf with lace, metal threads and  fringe on the ends is tied on her waist. Gilded metal bracelets with transparent colorless, blue and pink gems are on the girl’s wrists and ankles. Openwork gilded hoop with large pendants in the form of flowers is on her head, a necklace with geometric pattern – is on her neck. Gilded pipe is in the girl’s right hand. She holds a long, hanging down snake with her left hand. The mechanisms of the automaton and jukebox are activated when the coin is dropped. The figure of the girl moves – her right hand lifts the pipe to her mouth; her head tilts left and right, the eyelids lower and rise. The snake moves its head from side to side; the musical movement plays one of four melodies.

Perhaps the bronze figurine “Snake Сharmer” by the German sculptor Josef Wind (1864-1898) was the prototype of this automaton. Several original versions of the sculpture, executed in alabaster exist.

Инв.2645/ММП