Smoking Soldier Automaton by Roullet & Decamps 1890年前后

With  Jumeau bisque portrait  head (height approx. 4 in.) stamped in red  "Déposé Tête Jumeau, Bté. S.G.D.G. 9" and artist marks "HVIII", modelled as a young man with defined features including aquiline, open mouth with accented lips, large fixed brown paperweight eyes, finely painted lashes and light-brown feathered brows, pierced ears, auburn sheepskin wig, metal hands, going-barrel mechanism  in the body with three cams and four levers causing soldier to turn and nod his head, bring a lighted cigarette to his lips, exhale and raise his left arm to his hat as though saluting, the smoke cycled from the cigarette-holder in his left hand to his mouth via bellows in the body, in original red felt trousers and later wool military jacket, height 22 ½ in. (57 cm), paint wear on left hand, scattered freckles in bisque, bellows need overhaul. Rare smoking automaton with a specially-commissioned bisque head by Jumeau. – A spectacular collector's item.