Automaton-making by master artist and machinist Thomas Kuntz

Thomas Kuntz and his incredible automata have been featured on this blog many times. There is a good reason for this: he is probably the most accomplished artist working in the medium of automata. He designs, engineers, sculpts, machines, fabricates, and decorates every element of his pieces. To be good at any one of these things is a major achievement; to be good at all of them is to be a master of the craft. There are few like him, and he is sure to be remembered as one of the greats. Enjoy this short film he created showing some of what goes into making his amazing auotata.

Here is where you can learn more about automaton-maker Thomas Kuntz.

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Incredible life-sized peacock automaton by James Cox created in 1777

The folks over at the amazing Atlas Obscura blog did a great round-up of animal themed automata the other day. Among them was this life size peacock automaton created in 1777 by James Cox. The automaton is The State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

From the video description:

Peacock clock at the State Hermitage Museum in Russia. Made in the 18th century by James Cox, an English clock maker, and sold to Potemkin (a favorite of the Catherine the Great) as spare parts. It took 9 years for a Russian mechanic named Ivan Kulibin to put it together again. Well worth it. It is run only once a year during June to preserve the mechanism, so you have very few chance to see it work. Made of gilded bronze silver and glass, it measures 3 meters in height. The dial of the clock is embedded into the head of a mushroom with a dragonfly moving on top to indicate the time.

Here is the full article at Atlas Obsura titled Five Astounding Animal Automata.

[ Thanks Falk! ]

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