A Lambert Spanish dancer automaton
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
A Lambert Spanish dancer automaton

Details
A Lambert Spanish dancer automaton
the rare pressed bisque head with closed smiling mouth, acquiline nose, blue paperweight eyes, pierced ears, heavy brows and long neck, with rigid-torso papier-mâché body and bisque forearms holding castanets, the going-barrel movement with LB key playing two airs and causing her to turn in a circle, swaying her head from side to side, moving her arms and left leg, in red bodice with beaded decoration and short yellow skirt with black lace overlay - 22in. (56cm.) high, the head impressed 2, (probably redressed during the 1950s, one earring hole pulled through, good tone but movement sticking)
Literature
A similar head was used by Lambert on a Spanish dancer illustrated in Christian Bailly (1987), Automata, the Golden Age, 1848 - 1914, p. 173.

A receipt, found inside the bisque head, from a theatrical wig-maker in Venice (dated 8/12/51) mentions work undertaken on a doll.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

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