Early Jumeau Automaton of a Drummer

Description:

Early Jumeau Automaton of a Drummer, circa 1870, with bisque head, closed mouth, fixed pale blue eyes, feathered brows, pierced ears and blonde wool wig, carved and painted hands holding drum sticks, the going-barrel clockwork motor in the body causing the figure to beat a drum suspended at his waist, dressed as a soldier in original cream-lined pale blue satin tailcoat trimmed with frogging and brass buttons, ivory silk breeches, black satin boots and matching tricorn hat edged in gold Dresden paper, on serpentine brass base decoratively-painted to resemble green marble, ht. 10 1/4 in., (fine original condition).
Note: It is rare to rare to find an automaton in this near-miniature size that has the mechanism contained inside the body.
Estimate $1,500-2,000

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