Marie-Antoinette's personal doctor gives us several details about this automaton. She wanted to give the android to the Academy of Sciences, so that it should appear among the institution's collection :

"The Queen has recently purchased a little automaton representing a woman, about eighteen or twenty inches high, which plays very well different music tunes on a sort of dulcimer (shaped like a small harpsichord). The features, proportions and fits of the figure are extremely elegant. She hits the different strings of the instrument in time, with the aid of two little hammers made of metal which she holds in her hands and which move very accurately and precisely. Moreover, while the automaton is playing the tunes, the movements of her head

and her eyes' varied expressions are very pleasant and make a surprising illusion. She is sitting on a seat which is put on a superb wooden table which also supports the dulcimer. The whole mechanism is locked and hidden in the thick table."

"This machine was built by skilful artisans in Germany, especially for the Queen; these artisans had already made a very big secretaire of secrets which was surprisingly perfect, and other works for the King of France."

"The Queen wanted the figure of automaton to be examined by several people from the Academy of Sciences.