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 shoulder 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.

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.