I was fortunate to be able to purchase an item about which I know very
little, having seen just one other in my years of collecting.  My hope
is that someone can enlighten me.

The item is a wax doll about 16" long in a prone position and in a
wooden box lined with satin.  The head is animated and it moves up and
down when the musical movement plays.  The movement is made my Thorens
and, on 30 notes, it plays the Italian Christmas carol "Tu Scendi delle
Stelle" ("You come down from the stars").

While this may appear to be just another doll in a box, it is obviously
meant to represent the Christ Child, as the song is unique to the
Christmas season.  The reason I know the song is that in our Catholic
Italian parish we sing this song once each year -- on Christmas Eve.
It is the equivalent of "O Holy Night" in terms of musical
significance.

The Thorens movement appears to be from the 1920s-30s.  I am not a doll
fancier so I have no knowledge of the doll itself.

There was one similar doll at the MBSI Annual Meeting in Seattle last
August; that is the only other I have seen.  That one was described as
a "sleeping baby," which is understandable, considering that Gina and I
were probably the only members there who could identify the rather
obscure tune being played.

I would sincerely appreciate hearing from anyone who may have further
information on this very special Christmas-related automata.

With all good Holiday Wishes to one and all,

Angelo and Gina Rulli
St. Paul, MN