ANTIQUE VICTORIAN CLOCKWORK WALKING DOLL

This unusual clockwork doll has a key-wind mechanism and she walks along when wound up. We believe her to be from a design by Enoch Rice Morrison which was patented in 1862. Printed on the brown paper stuck to the wooden base is 'Patented July 15th, 1862; also, in Europe, 20 Dec. 1862.' The doll has a painted china shoulder head, kid arms, a papier mache lower support, and brass feet. She is wearing what we believe to be her original red silk dress and she retains her underskirt.

Condition: Overall in fair to good condition with some playwear consistent with age and use. The key is a replacement. We believe the doll to be mostly original, but she looks to have been cleaned and refurbished at some point so there are some signs of repair and there may be some replacement parts. A wooden strengthening bar has been fitted across the top of the wooden base. The doll is dusty, grubby and faded. There is some scuffing to her head and there is some rubbing to the end of her nose. Her dress is frayed and holed, badly in places, and has some staining to the back. She is in working order, but the mechanism is a little worn. The paper label attached to the underside is lifting around the edges, with some loss.  

The approx. measurements are as follows:

30.5cm high.         (Ref. #16289)