Musical automaton "Magician"
Musical automaton "Magician"
France, Paris
circa 1895
Renou Louis; François Gauthier
Porcelain, fabric, wood, beads, artificial flowers; lathe, sewing, mechanical works
Height 39 cm
Mark on doll's head: "F.G." (Francois Gautier)
Automaton in the form of a girl’s figure on wooden stand. The girl has blue glass eyes, blonde braided hair and earrings in her ears. Headband with cast metal feathers and flowers is on her head. She is dressed in cream colour blouse made of poplin with lace on the collar and cuffs, black waistcoat with buttons and lacing of beads, pink cape with bows on the shoulders, short silk tobacco-coloured pants, white knitted stockings and pink satin shoes with blue pompons. Round table covered with red silk tablecloth is standing in front of the girl. She holds with her both hands an oval casket standing on the table.
Musical movement with sound comb, pinned cylinder with one tune and a spring drive is fitted in the stand, with authentic winding key and activation button on the rear side. When the movement is turned on, the music sounds, the magician raises the head and the box, one of the objects appears on the table: red, yellow, or white ball, a red or white dice, and then the girl put back the casket and lowers the head, the actions are repeated.
Инв.2313/ММП