Pierrot perched on the tip of a personified papier-mâché crescent moon, with papier-mâché head, brown glass eyes, articulated tongue and metal hands, in original well-preserved blue satin tailcoat with large glass-pearl buttons, waistcoat, ruff and pointed shoes, with going-barrel motor and two-air musical movement playing a waltz and a polka, ht. 20 ½ in. (52 cm), with acorn-form stop/start, unobtrusive old retouch on Pierrot's neck and lips, clouds and moon's lips, old reinforcement on tip of moon, otherwise good. - Literature: Bailly, "Automata, the Golden Age, 1848-1914", pp. 86, 87. - The moon was a popular motif in late 19th century visual culture, inspiring métiers as diverse as advertising, the early cinema and automata. Here Pierrot is seen serenading a crescent moon with his mandolin, turning and bowing his head and sticking out his tongue as the moon rolls her eye and moves her mouth as though enchanted. - An iconic Vichy automaton in exceptionally fine original working condition.