21.5" Francois Gaultier Mechanical Doll That Plays Guitar c. Late 1800's

21.5" Francois Gaultier Mechanical Doll That Plays Guitar c. Late 1800's

This antique mechanical doll is rare and exquisite. The doll stands 18.5 inches tall on a 3 inch box, making him 21.5 inches to the top of his hat. He is posed atop a beautifully shaped, golden tan fabric-covered base that measures 6" x 5.75" at the bottom. The way the fabric catches light, it resembles a velvet material. On the doll's back is a small crank. When the crank is turned, the doll's right arm raises and then falls down as though he is strumming his guitar. At the same time, a relaxing and enchanting song plays from the doll. The song is quite long, leading me to believe that it is not just a random tune, but a real contemporary song that was chosen for this delightful doll.

His head is stunning French bisque with only a few small dots of dirt or stain. He has brown, feathered eyebrows, pale blue paperweight eyes, and and abundance of stunning, charcoal-colored painted eyelashes. His cheeks are very blushed against his fair skin and his closed pink lips are lined with a darker pink - a signature look on a handful of Gaultier's dolls. He has curly, platinum-blond hair topped with a teal blue hat. The hat has a bright red feather glued to its side that is likely original and a genuine bird feather. Added above it are a couple of synthetic pink feathers that a previous owner must have added for some extra flair. The pink feathers could be removed easily if desired.

This musician doll wears a formal yet playful long-sleeved silk tunic. It is primarily the same teal blue color as the hat with red and orange accents. The chest and neckline of his tunic is light tan, pleated, and decorated with lace. He also wears silky, cranberry red shorts over red tights. His outfit is in remarkably excellent condition, especially given his age. There are no large rips or tears and just some stains and discoloration. Despite the natural wear on the clothes, they are still vibrant nonetheless. He wears black and brown shoes with yellow-orange trim. The black portion appears like snakeskin and the brown portion is the same silk-like material as his stockings.

He holds a hand-carved, hand-painted wooden guitar with four golden wire strings. The wood has no chips and the instrument is firmly attached to him at his abdomen. His hands and forearms are hand-carved and painted wood as well. There is one small chip in the wood of his left hand and a few places where it appears the dirt has been scratched off of the paint, revealing his hands' pinkish color. His right arm is armature for the mechanical function. His other arm and his hips seem to be stuffed cloth and his chest and legs are harder like wood; his clothes do not come off, however, so I am unable to confirm this composition.

Francois Gaultier made dolls from his company from 1860-1899 on the outskirts of Paris, France, then Gaultier joined and made dolls with Société Française de Fabrication de Bébé & Jouets in 1899. The bottom of this doll's base is marked "Au Bon Marché Siège Et Tapisserie RX" with a pen signature.