Boy automatons vary regarding subject matters. Although dolls are more often female, with automatons boys are equally popular and are often paired together with other items or animals. Whistling boys or boys playing with dogs or cats are delightful.
Below are some examples and price guides of antique boy automatons including a boy with a singing goose and a musical boy puppeteer.
BOY & SINGING GOOSE MUSICAL AUTOMATON | France, depicts a clown suited French bisque head boy who moves arm and head about like conductor while attempting to conduct a standing goose by music stand, goose raises head and melody emits from the base. | 17.5″ h. | Some age wear to cloth on one box base
Sold for US$800 at Bertoia Auctions in 2023
Musical Manivelle Automaton Carousel, c. 1890
Germany, with three boys on horses and three girls in chariots, decorated with wood ball finials on red wire stems, velvet ribbon and silk trim, the riders with bisque heads, molded hair and original costumes, on grained paper-covered base with floral transfer and hand-turned movement playing a single tune as the carousel revolves, height 13 1/2 in. (34 cm), base 8 in. (20 cm) square, overall good original cosmetic condition, missing two chariot wheels, boys and horses missing assorted legs, base slightly bowed, partially operative, mechanism not opened for inspection.
Sold for €750 at Auction Team Breker in 2022
Musical Doll Puppeteer Automaton
Circa 1900. Boy is dressed in period fabric costume with fine lace work and puppeteering a marionette. Head and hands are made from porcelain with realistic features. The figure is standing on a square plinth base containing the musical automaton mechanism. Comes with winding key.
Ht. 19 1/2 in.
Sold for US$1,000 at Cottone Auctions in 2023
One of a kind fairground organ “La Belle Epoque” by Belgian organ builder Albert Flahaut. Interesting combination with the accdordion boy automaton. The organ has 92 keys, snare and bass drum and a bandmaster. The little boy moves and plays the accordion. Comes with an endless wheel of cardboard music. Organ: 220 x 200 x 120 cm. Accordion automaton: 150 x 85 x 75 cm. Height: 220 cm. Width: 285 cm. Depth: 120 cm. Condition: Very Good.
Sold for €15,000 at Dutch Auction Company in 2023
VICHY MUSICAL AUTOMATON “MANDOLIN PLAYER SEATED ON CHAIR BACK”. Marks: Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG 4. Seated on the rung of a ladder-back chair is a Jumeau bisque head boy with brown paperweight eyes, painted lashes, closed mouth, shaded and accented lips, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, carton torso with one hinged hip, wire upper arms, bisque forearms and hands, dressed in pink silk-satin costume in the French manner with pink satin shoes and hat with plume, holding a wooden mandolin in his arms. When wound, he turns his head in a nodding circular motion, strums the mandolin and moves his right leg as though keeping time to the music.
Sold for US$2,500 at Frasher’s Doll Auction in 2022
