Incredible mystery mechanism: can you identify it?

Adrien Massue writes in from France with a most intriguing mystery. A few years ago he purchased this elaborate mechanism. Beautifully made, yet weird, he has no idea what the machine was designed to do. He is now is now on a quest to find out. I could only makes some general comments about the mechanism, but certainly could not identify it. Can you?

Here are some links with large images of the mechanism:
• http://www.cijoint.fr/cj201008/cijbyF5Ddj.jpg
• http://www.cijoint.fr/cj201008/cijPSv8WyD.jpg
• http://www.cijoint.fr/cj201008/cijitTeGew.jpg
• http://www.cijoint.fr/cj201008/cijlE3ivKd.jpg
• http://www.cijoint.fr/cj201008/cijQW7Yj7q.jpg
• http://www.cijoint.fr/cj201008/cijf2y9TjG.jpg
• http://www.cijoint.fr/cj201008/cijJ1ngrfC.jpg
• http://www.cijoint.fr/cj201008/cijAOgPzbe.jpg
• http://www.cijoint.fr/cj201008/cij5b3zt0V.jpg
• http://www.cijoint.fr/cj201008/cijdFqCUSp.jpg
• http://www.cijoint.fr/cj201008/cijMCuMtan.jpg

Monsieur Massue has posted a question about this mystery device to an antique forum and there is some general agreement that this is the mechanism for an automaton. So far, I am not convinced. My guess is that this is an elaborate mechanical sculpture made from an assortment of machine parts. What do you think?

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