Museum Collections
Luce Center
Autoperipatetikos
Title
Autoperipatetikos
Object name
Walking doll
Date
ca. 1862
Medium
Ceramic, textile, paper, leather, metal, paint
Dimensions
Overall: 9 x 8 3/4 in. ( 22.9 x 22.2 cm )
Description
Walking doll with bisque shoulder head, yellow molded hair, blue painted eyes, closed mouth, and pink tinted cheeks; torso and skirt form made of fabric glued to stiff backing (possibly cardboard) concealing clockwork mechanism underneath, with hole at side of form for key; biscuit-colored, short-sleeved shirtwaist with purple ribbon sash and gathered skirt sewn on at waist, over stiff form; brass leg casings shaped like boots extend from bottom of "skirt."
Credit Line
Purchased from Elie Nadelman
Object Number
1937.1217
Marks
printed: around edge of base: "Patented July 15, 1862; also, in Europe, 20 Dec. 1862."
Gallery Label
The mechanism was patented in 1862 by Enoch Rice Morrison. Most of the dolls made under this patent were apparently manufactured by Martin & Runyan, a New York firm, but Caroline Goodfellow conjectures that others were probably made by several people (See Publications).
Provenance
The Folk Art Collection of Elie Nadelman
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.





