MONKEY AUTOMATON

A rare late 19th early 20th Century musical automaton in the form of a papier mache monkey standing on a musical box. Probably of French manufacture.
Now slightly plush bare and with endearing age scars, this crazy scary chimp nods its head opens its jaws full of metal teeth (Victorian dentistry at its best) and rolls its glass eyes, to a cheery tune from within a stained pine base.
The mechanism has been a little overwound so it keeps stopping, the automaton needing to be perfectly level for the lead pendulum to keep ticking, but it is complete, it wants to work with the help of a little cleaning and adjustment.
The musical box works independently and is working.
Our gorgeous monkey stands some 53cm tall.
Musical base: 32cm x 24cm