20"· Antique Original French Musical Automaton "The Professor and the Dunce" by Roullet et Decamps, circa 1895

20" (49 cm.) Posed on a silk brocade-covered wooden platform is a bisque-head Professor standing behind his teacher's desk, holding a book and a teaching rod, while alongside is the classroom student "dunce" in kneeling position and with accessory ears. When wound, the professor turns side-to-side, nodding his head and waving his stick as he turns to the student, then inclining his head to read from his book. The Dunce lifts his book up and down, pretending to study, while his ears move up and down and back and forth as though mocking the professor. Two tunes are played. original clothes
HEAD teacher marked TETE JUMEAU DSGD TALLA 1
PLATFORM measures 25x 24cm
original key

Condition is generally excellent, mechanism and music function well.
maker : Roullet et Decamps, PARIS circa 1895.
the amusing vignette is well-preserved, including school room details such as teacher's bell and blackboard.
Exceptional piece, hard to find automaton

PAYPAL ACCEPTED
LAYAWAY ACCEPTED