With papier-mâché head, brown glass eyes with articulated lids, hinged jaw with inset teeth and tongue, white mohair wig, whiskers and beard, standing behind a pine rostrum, with three-air cylinder musical movement and seven-cam going-barrel automaton movement, dressed in black silk ermine-trimmed robes, ht. 29 in. (74 cm), paint restored, rostrum possibly an old replacement. – A large and very animated piece, the Advocate was advertised in the catalogue of Gustav Uhlig of Halle, Saxony, as "near-natural" and "suitable for any business that wishes to use it for advertising purposes". – The figure looks around, blinks and raises a document which he inclines his head to read. His left hand sweeps up and down and then in a circular motion as he beats the document and moves his mouth as though delivering a lively speech. – Rare 'occupational' automaton, in excellent working order. – Literature: Similar pieces illustrated in: Chapuis & Droz, "Automata, An Historical and Technical Study", p. 337; Bailly, "Automata, the Golden Age", p. 167; Uhlig catalogue reproduced in Bowers, "Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments", p. 78.
