This piece is SOLD AS IS.
"French. 1880s. JUMEAU bisque head . A classic automaton from the golden age of automata (1860-1910) made by Leopold Lambert, one of the great master automata makers of the 19th century.
Lambert apprenticed under Gustav Vichy, one of the greatest automata masters of the time. An automaton (pl. automata) is a mechanically moving figure. These figures were typically not made as toys, but rather, were made for society's well-to-do elite to decorate their homes and intrigue children
automata were created with the assistance of his wife, Eugenie, a Parisian tailor."
The turn key and the music box are in great antique shape (missing one wooden "foot"). I have tried everything to figure out the name of the tune from the music box. It starts and stops perfectly after all these years. The doll is a bit falling apart, to say the least. Only half of her face exsists. This piece is perfect to restore.
The music box is amazing though. The handmade nails and mechanism is truly an example of fine craftsmanship.
Please see the photos to complete this slightly complecated description.
Thank you so much for looking.