Sunday Morning Special: "Bébé Polichinelle" Musical Automaton by Lambert, c. 1895

Polichinelle

This unusual automaton by the French maker Lambert dates to 1895. The figure of a rather demented looking child moved in time to an internal music box as she manipulates a marionette of Polichinelle—the French version of the Italian Pulcinella (as opposed to his cousin, Guignol) who as we know is Britain’s beloved Mr. Punch.