Automata

Musical automaton "Girl with lorgnette and watch"

    Musical automaton "Girl with lorgnette and watch"

    France, Paris

    Circa 1924

    Composers: Maurice Yvain, Irving Cohn, Société Française de Fabrication de Bébés et Jouets

    Papier-mâché, bisque, fabric, lace, metal, hair, wood; sewing, painting, joinery, mechanical work

    52 x 19 x 20 cm

    Inscriptions on the nape: “S.F.B.J. / 60 / PARIS”. On the label: “2 AIRS”, “1. “Gosse de riche” Couplet / 2. Yes! We have no Bananas”

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    The automaton, fashioned as a young girl, is mounted on rectangular wooden base with rounded corners, covered in reddish-brown velvet. The girl's head and hands are crafted from bisque porcelain, featuring a face with blue glass eyes, painted eyebrows and eyelashes, slightly open mouth, and pierced ears with earrings. Her long brown hair is adorned with soft hat made of blue silk and white guipure lace, with ruffle serving as a brim.

    When the spring is wound and the mechanism is switched on, a melody plays: the girl raises her right hand holding a watch and brings her left hand closer to her face. She looks at the dial through the lorgnette lenses. After those movements she  lowers her hands, smoothly turns her head from side to side, brings the lorgnette back to her eyes, and lowers it again while looking around, with the movements repeated to the musical accompaniment.

     

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    1582/ММП