Striking a pose. . . .

And she most certainly is striking! At 17 inches tall, this lovely lady was no doubt intended to be a countertop display mannequin. Jointed only at the shoulders, she is of a heavier celluloid material, with rods in the soles of her feet that fit into holes in her marbleized base. There are no marks, not even on her domed pate under the blond mohair wig. I have seen this and similar mannequins represented as German from the 1920s, but I know that somewhere years ago I saw this same mannequin identified as by the French company Petitcollin from the 1930s-40s.

Her facial painting resembles that of earlier and larger Petitcollin dolls, with beautifully painted eyes with a white highlight to the left of the pupil, shading on the upper eyelids, and heart-shaped red lips.

UPDATE: The "Les Poupées de Mariline," a French website dedicated to dolls and doll restoration, identifies this beautiful belle as by Petitcollin: https://www.restauration-de-poupees.fr/en-gb/reconnaitre-les-baigneurs-celluloid#Petitcollin

UPDATE II: I heard from Les Poupées de Mariline, who confirmed that this fine figure "is a rare decoration figure from Petitcollin around 1930. The base is generally made of plaster and celluloid on. It is not a toy. This production was destined to be dressed. Decoration dolls were very current between 1925 and 1935. I found information in the Elisabeth Chauveau book about French production of celluloid." I will now have to locate a copy of that book!

 

Automaton Odalisque (Updated June 16, 2023)

This hoochie coochie cutie is a bit of a mystery. Just 4.5 inches tall, the sultry sultana, who represents a Middle Eastern belly dancer, has a metal body and a bisque head. The head is German and no later than the early 1900s. The remains of her outfit are silk, now fragile and deteriorating with age. 

Her lower abdomen is a domed metal piece, separate from the rest of the body, which is molded in one piece, and when the screw projecting from the back is moved in a circular motion, she does a belly roll that would make Little Egypt jealous!  

Further, moving the metal loops behind her neck causes her head to turn slightly side to side. I have checked and other than the typical mold mark on the back of the head, there are no other marks. 

  

She certainly was once part of some mechanism that made her perform. Perhaps some sort of coin-operated amusement or vending machine? An automated peepshow?

I think that may have found the original automaton, or something certainly very like it. This coin operated countertop automation was sold by Donley Auctions on May 16, 2020. The auction listing described the piece as "Wood case with glass front. Features three bare breasted dancing belly dancers. When coin is deposited the center one shimmies and shakes." The listing stated that the belly dancers measure about 6 inches tall each, but in the pictures they appear to be standing on circular bases, which would increase their height. Unfortunately, the listing saying nothing about the maker or the possible date of manufacture. The pictures sadly are not very clear and I could not enlarge them enough to get a better look at the little belly dancers, but the one in the center does appear to have a head that is of a different material from her body. If anyone has more information on this marvelous mechanized harem, I would most appreciate it if you would share it with me!