Antique bubble-blowing polar bear automaton

The good folks at Douglas Fisher Antique Automata just posted this amazing piece by Roullet & Decamps dating to around 1905. This is one of the best antique automata I've seen in quite a long time!

From the Douglas Fisher web site:

When bubble mixture present in chalice and automaton wound by the key and bayonet start/stop rod actuated, the polar bear turns his head to the left as his right hand holding bubble hoop scoops up mixture from the chalice held in left hand and lifts hoop in front of face, pausing for a moment then suddenly blowing to exude a stream of many bubbles which blow around the room. He then quickly turns his head to the left and opens his mouth to clearly reflect on the fun of the action, scooping more liquid for the next of many bubbles blown in repeating sequence again and again.

The bear has a clever movement within torso which animates the arm, head, and mouth. It also contains a bellows which provides the air needed for the bear to blow the bubbles. As with many automata of this era, the body is made papier-mâché covered in real fur. It figure stands 17 inches high, has glass eyes, and carved wood teeth.

Here is where you can learn more about this antique bubble-blowing polar bear automaton.

---

Douglas Fisher now offering Golden Age automata, singing birds, and musical boxes

The firm of Douglas Fisher of London has launched a new web site which offers Golden Age automata, fine singing bird boxes and cages, and unusual cylinder musical boxes.

The list of offerings features many examples from the most renowned makers: Vichy, Roullet-Decamps, Griesbaum, Bontems, Phallibois, and others. Every piece they offer is shown in static images, video with sound, and in a 360-degree view. According to their web site, the majority of thier pieces can be viewed at their gallery at 75 Portobello Road in London. They will also be exhibiting at various fairs in Europe, USA and Asia.

Here is the web site for Douglas Fisher Antique Automata Ltd.

---