Restoration of a tiny ship automaton and music box

Back in January of 2012, I posted about a tiny ship automaton and music box that was presented by Michael Start from The House of Automata. His video showed the mechanism in motion, but we didn't get to see the case that once held it or hear the tune that it once played.

As it turns out, Brittany Cox at West Dean College in the UK, was on a team tasked with the conservation of this tiny ship automaton from the early 19th century. She wrote the last of a three-part series on the project -- part one focusing on covering the case in shagreen and part two focusing on other details of the case.

In this wonderful post, Brittany Cox takes us step-by-step through the process of figuring out how the ship was made, what it did, and finally what she did to get it working again. The mechanism's music-box components were mostly intact, but not functioning. The tune played by the mechanism was not known.

Follow along as she goes about dating the piece, repairing the mechanism, and conducting experiments to get the musical component to function once again. She also performed an analysis that allowed her to confirm the tune played by the automaton. There's far more to her post, but I won't repeat it all here. I assure you, it is both educational and fascinating.

Here is where you can read about the restoration and repair of The Automaton Ship and Silver Shagreen Case.

[ Thanks Kim! ]

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Automata presentation will address the question: conservation or restoration?

More than a year ago, the Morris Museum initiated a program of one-hour, evening "Spotlight" presentations, each focusing on a different aspect of the Murtogh D. Guinness collection. Specific automata and/or mechanical musical instruments are brought out of both the exhibition and storage to illustrate their role in the arts, music and/or society. This usually sparks a vigorous discussion by the audience.

During the upcoming program on May 24th, Jere Ryder, Guinness Collection Conservator, will discuss conservation ethics as they relate to automata. One of the subjects -- a Clown Guitarist by Leopold Lambert -- is shown here before and after restoration. Mr. Ryder is a member of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC).

The program will include a rare behind-the-scenes look at the fragile textiles, costuming and inner workings of these ingenious mechanical dolls. The program also includes live demonstrations of select automata from the Guinness Collection.

Location: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown, NJ
Date: Thursday - May 24th, 2012
Time: 6-7pm
Cost: $7 for bembers / $9 for non-members
Call 973-971-3706 to pre-register, spots are limited.
For more Information visit: www.morrismuseum.org

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