Musical automaton "The piano player"
Musical automaton "The piano player"
France, Paris
Circa 1880
Pierre-François Jumeau (head), Lambert, Léopold
Steel, brass, wood, fabric, leather, hair, feathers; mechanical work, carpentry, sewing, molding, painting on bisque, casting
50 x 32 x 39 cm
Inscriptions on the back of the head: “DÉPOSÉ/TÊTE JUMEAU/BTE S.G.D.G./v 9”
The automaton is designed as a figure of a young woman standing beside a piano. The body of the instrument is made of wood and finished with a black gloss lacquer. Shaped cast golden drop handles are screwed onto the sides.
When the automaton is switched on, the figure of the young woman comes to life: her hands alternately rise and lower onto the keys, and her head turns from side to side and tilts forward. The action is accompanied by a melody played by the musical movement.
2043/ММП