Automata collection at the Rocca Borromeo, Italy

The Rocca Borromeo of Angera is located on the south side of the Alps.
Among many other historical treasures, some rooms of the castle house the Doll and Children's Clothes Museum. A large section is dedicated to mechanical automata dating from the nineteenth century. All of the automata are fully functioning!

From the Rocca Borromeo tourism web site:

The Doll Museum is, to this day, one of the most important exhibition areas in Europe dedicated to dolls. As well as the prestigious items already exhibited, in June 2002 a new section was opened, dedicated to French and German automatons dating from the 19th and 20th centuries. The exhibits, which are true mechanical wonders and date from between 1870 and 1920, come from the Petit Musée du Costume in Tours, France and once formed part of the famous collection belonging to Robert and Gisèle Pesché.

Here is where you can learn more about the automata collection at the Rocca Borromeo.

[ Thanks to the Crandall family! ]

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400 year old gold skull automaton and clock

This incredible automaton features a beautiful clock underneath the skull cap. Over the course of a few minutes the mandible opens, then snaps shut all of a sudden. The snakes in two eye sockets alternately emerge and retreat. Created in 1610 by Nicolaus Schmidt der Junger, this skull automaton/mechanical clock recently sold for an astounding $135,000.

Here is is a more complete description and several large photographs of the 400 year old gold skull automaton and clock over at the Watchismo Times Blog.

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Carved devil handled cane with articulated tongue

Check out this beautifully carved antique cane handle. The little devil's tongue is articulated and will stick out when the cane is moved.

From the item description:

Carved 'ox-bone' depicting the devil – more continental than the traditional English style, finely carved with his eyes closed and a stained red tongue which protrudes out when the cane is shaken or tapped on the ground. Accepted as an amusing surprise to delight (or scare) children, popular in the early 20th century.

Set in a plain silver collar fully hallmarked London 1923 makers punch R P – R Penston and mounted on an elegant ebonised hardwood cane terminating with original ferrule.

Here is the full eBay listing with many excellent photographs of this carved devil handled cane with articulated tongue.

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Ethiopian Caterpillar automaton by Maillardet

The Ethiopian Caterpillar is an exquisite automaton from 1820 going to auction at Sotheby's November sale in Geneva. The automaton is attributed to Henri Maillardet -- creator of the famous drawing automaton now at the Franklin Institute.

Only six automaton caterpillars are known to exist and only two of these are studded with diamond, emeralds, rubies, and turquoise as the one for sale by Sotheby's is. This is a fantastically rare, important, and valuable piece. The pre-auction estimates place its value somewhere between $350,000 to $450,000.

From the Sotheby's catalog:

The body realistically designed to represent a caterpillar comprising eleven jointed ring segments, framed by seed pearls, and decorated with translucent red enamel over an engine-turned ground, studded overall with gold-set rubies, turquoise, emeralds,and diamonds. The underside is decorated with champlevé black enamel. When the automaton movement is engaged, the caterpillar crawls realistically, its body moving up and down simulating the undulations of a caterpillar by means of a set of gilt-metal knurled wheels. The automata work is composed of a barrel, cam and two leavers all working together to create the crawling motion.

Here is the Sotheby's catalog listing for the The Ethiopian Caterpillar automaton by Maillardet.

[ Thanks Michael! ]

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A different sort of whistling automaton figure

There isn't much of a description for this antique whistling figure other than it is 30cm tall, made of wood, needs to be lubricated, and until recently shook its head and whistled. What I find interesting is that it is not the typical drunkard leaning on a lamppost motif. I think I see the end of the word "GERMANY" on the mechanism close up, but I'm not sure. Here's a shot of the back side:

Here's the full ebay listing, with a close up show of the mechanism of this unusual antique whistling figure.

[ Thanks Phil Sing! ]

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