A vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & Decamps

A vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & Decamps,
 
French, 1920s,
 
Your trusty housework friend,
 
When wound by the factory pierced cast R & D key, the standing cat springs straight into action, nodding head confidently, whilst the lead iron held in right hand moves with the arm the length of the material laid on the ironing board again and again, with a slight pause in the middle to banish those awkward creases, coming to a stop after a few minutes when the spring has distributed all power.
 
The white standing cat, with superb yellow glass eyes with black pupils, pink nose and naturalistic closed mouth, perked ears, body entirely covered in white rabbit fur with matt feet and paws, cotton ironed sheet with blue floral print, on rectangular white painted ironing board on twin circular supports, to matching baseboard, R & D cast pierced captive winding key through cat's back, automatic start.
 
size -
6in. wide, 8.1/2in. deep, 12in. high max - (15 x 21.5 x 30.5cm)
 
Reference -
Automata - The Golden Age 1848-1914, C. Bailly, p.310 (for similar automatons made by Roullet & Decamps using the same movement from their 1897 catalogue) 
 
Point of Interest -
The Milk Churn.  The Cooper's Barrel.  The Lidded Pot.  All the famous sought-after pieces from this animal-speciality automaton workshop in France from the late 19th century, used, mostly, white fluffy cats as the centrepiece.  Beautifully moulded and formed, with the glass eyes piercing out from the richness of the bright white fur, the success of Roullet & Decamps right up until the end of the 1950s proved without doubt their keenness to take advantage of the high selling opportunities through the power of animal magic. 
The family-run business from the two partners produced the best loved and amusing automatons ever made.  Share the magic with this very rare vintage offering, made to impress and to help with the chores of everyday life.
STOCK No1588
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A vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & Decamps
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A vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & DecampsA vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & DecampsA vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & DecampsA vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & DecampsA vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & DecampsA vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & DecampsA vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & DecampsA vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & DecampsA vintage white cat ironing automaton, by Roullet & Decamps
 
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