Featured Wind up automaton antique or vintage CAT

Cat lover that I am, was SO happy to get this. Completely lucked out, the estate runner was putting a few un-priced items out about an hour into the sale and I was just in the right place at the right time. Also she kindly gave me a very good price on it.

Obvious condition issues, but it still works! You wind it up, head moves around while mouth opens and closes, tail wags and it sort of trembles and moves slowly across a surface, seems like it purrs!

No markings on the key. Cat is approx 6" tall.

Thinking antique rather than vintage, right? Glass eyes. Seems entirely made of wood unless the body is papermache. You can see wood in the spots that the fabric is worn in any case. Maybe German or French?

Curious if anyone has thoughts, but keeping this guy for now.

 

looks like grumpy cat's father.......... neat !!!

 

Wondering if it used to meow. The bottom lip opens and closes as part of the movement.

Also may have had whiskers at one time.

Curious about the age.

 

wind up...so it did move.......not sure about a meow....

 

Thanks! Does that link open for you, Book? I can only get the "SOLD" page w/no photo, description or price. (Can anyone open it and retrieve any info?)

Good lead! Googling Ruby Lane I found a 2nd one that does seem to be this version too...quite a bit like mine, even down to red paint by the eyes, listed as" "French black cat automaton". That page also has a "SOLD" and no photo or price, but google images shows it in a box, had "French" in the title so if they had the orig box maybe they had some info about origin.

 

very cool cat Lucille

good find Book, sure looks the same

 

you have to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the listing

 

Aha! Started scrolling down but didn't go far enough! Thanks!

So older as I hoped. Great.

 

so , no meow....as i figured.....but the price is a wow !!