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Especially pretty 15" ( 38cm )
example of this mechanical fashion doll attributed to Jules Steiner with
lovely bisque socket head with open mouth and two rows of tiny teeth , pale
blue glass eyes, and pierced in ears, on separate bisque shoul der
plate and long narrow well modeled bisque arms with no signs of damage or
repair. The torso containing the key wind clockwork-type mechanism is
covered to the waist by white kid leather and the cone shaped base housing
the key and clockwork are covered first by cardboard and then thin linen on
top of that. There is a faint stamp on the base, probably that of the retail
establishment where originally sold, but it is incomplete and not fully
readable. The clothing and lovely strawberry blond mohair wig appear
original with antique straw bonnet also of the period if indeed not original
as well. There are three wheels on the bottom of the
wooden platform base and when the key is wound, the doll moves forward and
also twirls in semi circular movements and the bisque arms move up and down
as well. This is a beautiful example of this very early piece, some found
with patent and stamp marks as early as 1867. This also is found with a
bisque shoulderhead but this swivel neck version is usually the one
preferred by most collectors and also the more difficult to find. US$ 4,600.
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10” (25cm )
tall when rabbit is in most fully extended position in the series of
movements. This charming and delightful French
musical automaton was most likely made about 1910 by the firm of Roullet and
Decamps. One more often finds a slightly later version with similar
mechanism and movements, probably from the late (19 ) teens to early 20's
with a similar white fur covered rabbit emerging
from a green fabric covered cabbage, but this earlier version has the
inquisitive bunny coming out of a painted green papier-mâché
tree stump mounted on a lime green velvet covered base with cloth flowers
and leaves attached to the base in front and on both sides. As the mechanism
is wound and the music plays the glass eyed white fur covered bunny with
black tipped ears raises his head up , moves back and forth, makes slight
movements with the mouth , and then raises his head once more with head
movement to the left and then looking downward as if to see something on the
ground, all the time the ears wiggling until he retreats once more to the
original position. The mechanism is wound by a large old brass key and has
the original on/off brass pull contained in the mache base. All works well
with strong music volume. A unique and wonderful piece!
US$ 3,800.
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14 1/2" ( 37cm ) French wind up
mechanical doll, circa WWI- early 1920's, by Roullet and Decamps, sometimes
known to collectors as " Fifi O'Toole ". Drawing somewhat from the French
street urchin cartoon characters " Rin Tin Tin " and " Nenette " by artist "
Poulbot ", there is also a male counterpart to the " Fifi O'Toole "
mechanical. This example has a composition head with glass inset eyes, human
hair wig and dressed in a shocking pink and lace dress with matching mop cap
and carrying a red headed baby. When wound the doll moves from side to side
and moves her head in an alternating motion. The colors are as bright as we
have ever seen and the entire piece is in close to mint condition. ( Often
when found, the baby is missing. )
US$ 2,250.
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