Antique French Nautical Automaton, likely from Marseilles, circa 1860

Antique French Nautical Automaton, likely from Marseilles, circa 1860, a glass domed diorama with windmills and cottages on hillside, overlooking harbor with ship rocking on waves to a musical tune. The interior of glass dome has a hand painted landscape with trees, village and expansive sky; the diorama features a carved or molded cottage and windmill with figures winding along path down to the water’s edge; a paper or papier-mache barque rides on a blue tissue paper sea; a pull-string activated mechanism plays music, rocks the ship on the sea, and turns the vanes of the windmill; all set on a fitted ebonized wooden base.

The automaton remains in fine condition, way above average for this type of model. Since paint does not adhere to glass well, these domes typically have a great amount of loss to the interior scene; here the paint is in very fine condition with only minor chips. The paper ocean is typically torn or brittle and unstable; the paper here was replaced at some point likely not too long ago. The rest of the diorama is in excellent condition. The mechanical parts are in excellent working order (it is very rare to find no problems). The pull-string appears to be a replacement.

It is a delight to find one of these sailing ship automatons in such fine condition.

Measures: 20 3/4 in H x 14 in L x 9 1/2 in Deep