21\" Exquisite Antique French Automaton Doll by Jullien Balleroy & Cie
![21\](img-large/g/Iy4AAOSwo6lWN5Pk/s-l1600/21-Exquisite-Antique-French-Automaton-Doll-by-Jull.jpg "21\")
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21\" Exquisite Antique French Automaton Doll by Jullien Balleroy & Cie:
$2500.00
This exquisite little lady is an antique French Automaton made by the Jullien Balleroy & Cie Porcelain Co. in Limoges, France. The doll itself has a perfect bisque head with no chips, cracks, breaks or hairlines. She has pierced ears but no earrings, blue set blown glass eyes, an open mouth with 5 teeth and a brown human hair wig. The composition body and legs are all one piece and the arms are wire with bisque hands up to the elbow. She wears a lovely deep rose satin dress trimmed in beige laces, with a lace over collar and has a hat and shoes to match. She holds a flower in her left hand and a fan with feathers in her right hand. She stands on a deep red velvet covered box that measures 5\"X5\"X5\" trimmed with matching braid. On the back of the box is a wind up key with the letters JB and a push/pull button. The doll is 15.5\" tall and the overall height of the Automaton is 21\". The original clothes and box covering deteriorated long ago and were replaced very nicely and painstakingly correct. I have the originals in a box to go with the doll (see pictures). The condition of the doll is wonderful and the velvet covering on the box shows some wear. The absolute best thing about this Automaton is that it WORKS! When wound and the button pulled out, she turns her head back and forth, she fans herself and bends her head to \"smell\" the flower while the music box plays the French National Anthem. It does tend to work slowly, but it works. The doll is marked on the back of the head \"Fabrication Francaise/ Limoges/ France/ J.B.\" There is also a number under the J.B. but the bottom was cut off when made so the head would sit over the movement. There is also a label on the bottom of the box, but I cannot read it.If there are any questions, please ask before the sale is over.
**NOTE**A nice watcher sent me more information on this doll - Thanks!!! The maker is Leopold Lambert of Paris and, with the Limoges head, it dates from around 1920. The initials on the key LB stand for Lambert & Bourgeois, Bourgeois being the maiden name of Lambert\'s wife.
21\" Exquisite Antique French Automaton Doll by Jullien Balleroy & Cie:
$2500.00