Musical automaton "Lady magician"
Musical automaton "Lady magician"
France, Paris
1880
Papier-mache, wood, metal, fabric, lace; sewing, casting, mechanical works, painting
82 x 56 x 45 cm, 17 kg
Automaton of a lady magician is standing on low pedestal, covered with red velvet. Round table covered with red velvet tablecloth is in front of her. She is dressed in lush white satin dress with deep straight neckline, trimmed with lace. A multi-layered skirt with pin tuck is decorated with wide red ribbon and braid with metallic thread. Red vest with front lacing and short flaps behind. A headpiece made from red silk scarf with gold horns is on her natural blond hair descending on the shoulders. The scarf, waistcoat and ribbons on the sleeves are trimmed with metal thread. A keyhole and a start button are on the rear side, under the shawl. Red ribbon with lace is on the neck. The head and hands are from unglazed porcelain. The magician holds a magic wand in her right hand, white flowers and berries on twigs, bandaged with ribbon are in her left hand. Two silvery glasses bottoms up and a cube in the form of a dice. When the mechanism is turned on, the magician waves her wand and nods her head in different directions. At the same time, a number of consecutive transformations take place on the table. At first, one glass is raised; the clown's head in red wig with painted face appears from beneath it. The head turns from side to side and pops out the tongue. The glass goes down. Then another glass is raised. A monkey head with gray sausage curls peeps from beneath it. The head turns as well, opens and closes the mouth. The glass goes down, the cube rises, a figure of a girl with blue eyes and brown hair appears from beneath it. The girl turns to the sides, puts her hands to her mouth and sends air kisses, the cube descends. After several repetitions in various sequence, the presentation ends.
Musical movement with cylinder and sound comb performs two tunes.
Инв.1556/ММП