Mechanical figure

The German automaton pictured here represents the circus performer, a popular theme for mechanical figures. The figure holds a metal rod in its mouth, which is connected to a green ring and poodle. When wound by a key hidden under the doll's wooden base, a spring-loaded mechanism causes the hoop and poodle to spin around and around above the doll's head. The doll features a bisque head and wooden hands.

Movement is an intrinsic part of a child's play, but the type of movement changes depending on the toy. While many toys require a child's active participation, some, such as this automaton, use internal mechanisms to produce their own motion. From 1850 to 1914, French and German doll makers produced large quantities of these automata. They designed simple moving toys for children, many of which looked like children themselves. They pulled along baby carriages, stroked animals, played at tea parties, or depicted characters from famous fairy tales. Others walked, talked, and blew kisses. More sophisticated toys, some of which wore designer gowns made of the finest French silks and waved delicately painted fans, appealed to adults. Mass production of these mechanical dolls halted at the beginning of World War I.