Roullet et Decamps Bébé Rose Automaton

Description:

Roullet et Decamps Bébé Rose Automaton, with Jumeau bisque character head marked in red HVII, straight neck, fixed blue paperweight eyes, feathered brows, pierced ears, open smiling mouth with lip outline and two rows of molded teeth, bisque hands, original blonde mohair wig and cream satin chemise, in papier-mâché rose decorated with petals and painted leaves, the open-spring motor with Decamps stop / start causing the lid to lift as the bébé slowly rises from the heart of the flower, turns, throw kisses, and then suddenly retreats, ht. extended 10 1/2 in., three movements.

Provenance: The Mary Dee Williams Doll Collection, Christie's South Kensington, 23 May 2002, lot 512.
Note: For the scarce early model of this automaton, Roullet et Decamps commissioned a special character head from Jumeau, with a distinctive smiling expression reminiscent of the mechanical dolls of Jules Steiner. The head was used exclusively for Bebe Rose and is not found on any other automata by Decamps, nor indeed on any Jumeau dolls.


Estimate $6,000-8,000

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