Antique Bisque German Automaton Music Dancing Doll circa 1895 Key Wind Beautiful

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Antique Bisque German Automaton Music Dancing Doll circa 1895 Key Wind Beautiful:
$730.00

Thisdarling Automaton (I have always called her Gypsy) is the only antique doll Ihave ever purchased. I am not evenremotely an expert. The marks on herhead (G –something small I can’t decifer –K, Dep and 44.24) indicate she isGerman made, 1895, by Gebruder Kuhnlenz (information located in German DollMarks & Identification Book by Jurgen & Marianne Cieslik).

Gypsyhas a bisque head and hands, beautiful blue glass (paperweight?) eyes, handpainted upper & lower lashes and eyebrows, open mouth with 4 tiny teeth anda sweet dimple in the middle of her chin.Her wig appears to be stamped DSB, & I doubt that it is original toher, tho she looks lovely in it.

Herhands are bisque with darling fingers and thumbs. Her arms and legs are not bisque. I can feel wire and a firm cone in each lowerleg and her trunk. Her upper arms have a flat (possibly metal) support connectedby wire from the elbow to each wrist and hand.This internal mechanism apparently allows her movement: shaking herbells and tambourine and gently swaying her hips.

Herblouse and vest feature many tiny hand-sewn sequins sewn onto rows of lace (2colors). The fullness of her lowerblouse and pants allow her ample hip action.The costume is completed with matching lace on her shoes. The paper on the surface of her tambourinewas cracked when I purchased her (either dryness and age or too-vigorousdancing). She stands 15.5” tall on awooden platform (4” tall & 6.25” square) which is covered in velvet (wornsomewhat over the years & thin in places, a 1.5” slit on 1 side of the sidevelvet which was there long before I found her) and houses her music box.

Ifell in love with her at a Theriault’s sale years ago. The staff demonstrated winding her key (backof base) & we watched her flirty automaton motions while the lovely melodyplayed. I have kept her in a glass case,not exposed to light, in a smoke and pet free home. She has no odor (I have a hyper-active senseof smell which highly annoys my husband).I have always felt that owning her was an honor, that she has beenentrusted to me, and therefore I had a responsibility to not trifle with herabilities, so I have never wound her until today. I turned the key 1 click this afternoon,which triggered the beautiful tones of her music box, & she changed theposition of her left arm & tilted her body in preparation for herdance. I have looked very hard to see ifI can find damage to her bisque (again I am certainly not an expert). When I touch her fingers, there is a smallarea on the end of a right finger that feels slightly sharp, but I can’t seeany difference even with a magnifying glass. I am amazed at how well she &her costume have weathered over 100 years.

Iwill be moving to a much smaller location & Gypsy needs a new secure,cherished home. I thought about amuseum, but I’m not ready to make that decision. Maybe you would love her as much as I have.

Paypal payment must becompleted within 3 days of sale close.

will collect 6% Sales Tax from KY residents.

Gypsywill be packed, shipped and insured for Buyers in the continental United States. Shipment costs and potential shippingarrangements beyond the continental US must be explored and determined severaldays before the sale ends. ThePotential Buyer should contact me, the Seller, with sufficient time before thesale closes to allow exploration for rates and methods of shipment to thePotential Buyer’s location. Many countrieswon’t allow insurance beyond about $600 & I can not accept responsibilityfor shipping an under-insured item that might arrive damaged or not arrive atall.

Ihave described her truthfully and to the best of my ability. Please peruse the pictures and ask anyquestions you might have. I strugglewith photography, so the pictures might appear to indicate a flaw that doesn’tactually exist. I will pack her lovinglyand carefully to hopefully ensure that she arrives at your home withoutinjury.

Anyrefund will be drawn from insurance coverage payment when damage or loss occursin transit from Seller to Buyer.