Item Description
Musical Automaton Doll Playing Harp. This musical automaton doll is fitted with a movement mechanism by Sanko Shoji Co. Ltd. of Japan, an affiliate of NIdec Corp. which is considered to be a leader in the manufacture of small precision motors. The doll’s clothing was designed by Lady Sylviane who grew up in Nice, France before moving to Galveston, Texas where she designed pageant costumes, owned her own costume shop, and subsequently designed doll’s clothing. This doll is depicted as playing a harp, is housed in an acrylic cover, and sits on a felt-covered wooden base. The doll is dressed in a lace-decorated red velvet dress and matching hat and has blue inset eyes on a porcelain head. A gilt plaque on front of the base reads “Sylvaine.” On/Off switch and winding key on side of the base. The doll’s arms and head rotate as the music plays. The movement mechanism is operative, but the doll jumps during the rotation and the mechanism needs a slight adjustment.
