Musical automaton "The girl with doll and lamb"
Musical automaton "The girl with doll and lamb"
France, Paris
Circa 1900
Lambert, Léopold , Société Française de Fabrication de Bébés et Jouets
Bisque, wood, fabric, metal, glass, natural hair; mechanical work, joinery, sewing, painting, molding
59 x 19 x 30 cm
Inscriptions on the sticker: “2 AIRS/1. Aux Champs. Pas redoublé. 2. Réveil de cavalerie”. On the head: “S.F.B.G./301/PARIS”
The automaton is mounted on a rectangular wooden base covered with a dark green velvet drape, which is trimmed along the edge with goldish braid. On the base is the figure of a young girl holding a doll in her right hand and a small lamb figurine in her left one. In front of the girl stands a round table on a turned pedestal leg, covered with a white tablecloth featuring a lace frill. Wooden skittles and a small ball are set upon the table.
The girl is dressed in a flared pink silk dress with puffed sleeves and a pleated drop-waist hem. The girl's head and hands are crafted from bisque porcelain, and her face features finely painted brown eyebrows.
An automaton control mechanism, combined with a two-melody musical movement, is mounted inside the base. The spring-driven motor is wound with a key. When the automaton is activated, the figure of the girl comes to life. Her right hand rises three times, bringing the doll closer to her face, and then lowers. Following this, her left hand with the lamb figurine rises and lowers. Meanwhile, her head turns and bows. The cycle then repeats. All movements are accompanied by the sounds of the musical mechanism, featuring a program cylinder and a comb.
2097/ММП