A rare 19th century Francois Gaultier French automaton doll ...

by Stamford Auction Rooms

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149 - A rare 19th century Francois Gaultier French automaton doll machine, with musical clockwork mechanis...

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£200 - £400

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A rare 19th century Francois Gaultier French automaton doll machine, with musical clockwork mechanism, composed of four steps with porcelain headed dolls, two with instruments, one with a garland and two further smaller examples to the top step, a lattice fence to the back decorated with silk flowers, the wooden papered base housing the mechanism, winding handle to the side, 45cm high. [This Francois Gaultier French doll machine is a fascinating piece of 19th century craftsmanship, automata and doll-making. Gaultier, a renowned Parisian dollmaker, was celebrated for his bisque dolls with expressive faces, delicate glass eyes and exquisitely detailed costumes. His automata and clockwork mechanisms have enchanted collectors and audiences both past and present. This example, coming under the hammer in April, depicts five dolls playing musical instruments, with a musical tune]

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+ Calendar 2025-04-26 10:00:00 2025-04-26 23:59:59 Europe/London The Marchant Collection: Dolls, Teddys & Dolls Houses, together with Toys Sheila Marchant's Story: Sheila Marchant was Norfolk born and bred, a teacher by profession, with experience of inner city and rural primary schools, culminating in headship of a village school on the North Norfolk coast. She began collecting dolls quite early, eventually branching out into bears and dolls’ houses. Initially she concentrated on proprietary examples, but a relatively brief spell teaching special needs in Essex brought her in touch with examples for the more discerning collector and from the early nineteen nineties her collection took on a more sophisticated aspect. For nearly two decades she regularly visited antique centres and auction houses which specialised in her preferred areas. Getting to know and cultivate specialist collectors and dealers, notably Jill Shapiro and Glenda O’Connor, she quickly learned about specific makes and models and set about refining her collection to include the most interesting examples of different historical periods, encompassing various decades from the late nineteenth century to more modern times. Judicious sales and purchases enabled this process until she had amassed a significant collection covering all three aspects of her interest. She was particularly pleased with some of the dolls’ houses she acquired, including a very early twentieth century example built by an indulgent father for his daughters! Her dolls and bears too included some fine, often rare, examples. Advancing years and failing health meant fewer excursions and brought a realisation that she had amassed the kind of collection she had long envisaged which now could be enjoyed in its own right - and this she proceeded to do for her remaining decade, her living room, as well as other parts of the house, full of dolls and bears to her delight and that (mostly!) of her husband, though some visitors exhibited distinct unease, unused to being exposed to the unwavering scrutiny of dozens of pairs of eyes! Throughout her life Sheila was an accomplished knitter, having acquired the skill early. At the age of about eight her enthusiasm was a little clipped by her grandmother’s reaction to her excited declaration of - ‘Grandma, I can knit!’, the response to which was -‘So what, so can I’! However, she persevered and over many years, among many other examples for family and friends, she knitted just short of two thousand children’s jumpers, all similar in size but with different distinctive patterns, latterly mostly for the East Anglian Children’s Hospice movement, an achievement of which she was quietly, though justly, proud. Her devotion to her hobbies reflected the dedication, exemplified in her professional career, of a compassionate, discerning and caring woman, now greatly missed by many. We are in awe of this incredible collection and SAR is delighted to have the privalege of selling them for the vendor The second part of the auction includes toys from other consignees. Stamford Auction Rooms

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Auction Date:

26th Apr 25 at 10am BST