Material Mode isn’t quite sure how we missed seeing this at The Metropolitan Museum of Art earlier this year, but we’re kicking ourselves.

This 18th century automaton was presented to Marie Antoinette in 1784, created by master furniture maker David Roentgen.  Roentgen enjoyed considerable favor with the  Queen, not only did she patronize him to create exquisite works of Rococo marquetry furniture with hidden doors, drawers and contraptions, she also trusted him to deliver ‘pandoras’—dolls dressed in the latest fashions—to her mother and sisters abroad so they could keep abreast of the latest French styles.

See for yourself. We are simply smitten.