Chahakobi (Tea-Server) Automaton, c. 2002

Gakken Otona no Kagaku, Japan. Plastic figure holding a tray, with articulated head and feet controlled by the exposed spring motor under the skirt, with key and porcelain bowl, figure 10 in. (26 cm), in fitted wood presentation box, wd. 9 ¼ x dp. 7 ¼ x ht. 12 ½ in. (23.5 x 18.5 x 32 cm), good working condition. - In addition: A book on Japanese dolls (in Japanese). - Note: Based on a design from the "Karakuri Zui" (Japan’s first mechanical design handbook) published by Hosokawa Hanzo Yorinao in 1796, the tea-serving doll was arguably Japan’s earliest home entertainment robot. According to the classification of the JIRA (Japanese Industrial Robot Association), she is a fixed sequence robot. When a cup of tea is placed on the figure's tray, she advances across the table to the waiting guest. Removing the cup halts her progress. - Literature: Andrea Robertson (1992), "Museum of Automata", p. 55; Auction Team Breker, 5 November 2016, Lot 513.

布雷克拍品等级是为了方便竞买人判断拍卖品的成色而设置的。布雷克等级用1到6级来标注外观和功能的成色，(从非常好到非常差)。 在目录图册里用括号里的2个数字来表示，前一个数字表示外观成色的级别，后一个数字表示功能成色的级别。如(3/2)表示外观成色是3(满意的)，功能成色2(好)。 成色 定义参照下列标准： 1 - 非常好 (未使用过，没有使用痕迹) 2 - 好 (新，极少的使用痕迹) 3 - 满意的 (普通的使用痕迹) 4 - 及格的 (明显的使用痕迹，某个非主要部件是后配的) 5 - 有缺陷的 (极明显的使用痕迹, 某个主要部件是后配的，功能上有缺陷，需要修理) 6 - 非常差 (严重破损, 缺少重要部件)