With Simon & Halbig bisque head impressed "S & H, 1039, Dep." and red "Wimpern" stamp, open mouth, articulated flirty blue glass eyes with cloth upper lashes, pierced ears, dark-brown hair wig, adult papier-mâché body with bisque shoulder-plate and hands, one raised aloft, the other resting on her hips, on velvet-covered base with single-air going-barrel movement playing "Faust Waltz" and causing the dancer to turn back and forth 45° on her right heel, while stamping her left foot, twirling the tambourine, swaying her head and glancing left and right, in lace-over-satin costume and velvet bolero jacket, height 21 in. (53 cm), with steel key, redressed to original design, good working order. – Literature: Bailly, "Automata, The Golden Age", p. 319. – Provenance: Sotheby's New Bond Street, 10 November 1995, Lot 204. According to the Sotheby's catalogue, "this piece was known as 'The Thumping Lady' by Princesses Olga and Elizabeth, daughters of Prince Nicholas and Princess Ellen of Greece. It was a gift of Nicholas, Tsar of Russia. It was later passed to Mrs. Clatworthy for her daughters after the birth of Princess Marina in 1906." The automaton remained in the same family from 1907 until it was offered by Sotheby's in 1995. A copy of the Sotheby's description accompanies the Lot. – An attractive automaton with an unusual history.