A rare antique walking elephant automaton, by Roullet & Decamps,
French, circa 1900,
R & D company catalogue number 57,
A lovely addition to your collection...
When wound and set in motion from the start/stop level to underside, the elephant moves his trunk in a sweeping motion and proceeds to walk forward.
With key-wind motor, the papier-mache body with grey painted leather skin covering with the look and mixture of elephant skin, superb and naturalistic detail to close-grain composition tusks and glass eyes, dressed with red silk sash, winding spindle to side.
11in. trunk to tail, 7,1/2in. toe to head - (28 x 19cm)
Point of interest -
Sometimes the simplist material ideas are the best - Roullet & Decamps simply painted leather grey for the skin and it is really interesting to see how effective it is at close range. This being one of the rarer animal models, this antique is presented in excellent original condition.