Swans Nesting automaton by Karen Barkie

Check out this nicely made automaton by Karen Barkie featuring two swans. I love the clean construction and the clever, yet simple way she incorporated a hand-cranked music box.

From the video description: A wooden automaton. Male Mute swan swims protectively around a nesting female to the music of Fur Elise played on a small music box. The wooden circular top spins around the stationary female. This is accomplished by inserting a 1/2" dowel within a 1 1/4" dowel. Made of oak, poplar and basswood. Measures 13 1/2" tall and 8" deep and wide. By Karen Barkie.

Here is where you can see more videos of automata by Karen Barkie.

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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Antique wall-mounted automaton by the French maker Tharin

This wall-mounted automaton by the French maker Tharin is currently for sale on eBay. The automaton figures are hand-painted paper and depict a nineteenth century lady and gentleman at a well.

It's hard to tell from the photo shown here, but the well emits a stream of "water" which is really a rod of glass that has been twisted into a spiral shape. When set it motion, it creates a it creates a convincing effect. The eBay listing has a close up shot of this often-used mechanical illusion.

From the eBay description:

The music box plays two tunes while the automaton picture has 6 moving parts. The ladies head moves up and down, the gentleman's head and hand move, the dog and horses head move up and down to drink water. There is also a special piece in the center, a turning glass cane that makes the simulation of water. All the mechanical parts are intact and original. The music box plays for half a minute.

I am always amazed at how delicate and spidery the works are for these old wall-mounted paper automata. Somehow that assemblage of tangled wires and thin strings continue to run after 100 (and sometimes 200 or 300) years. The eBay listing has some wonderful shots of the mechanism as seen from the back.

The automaton has an integrated music box which plays two tunes. These are changed by pulling on a dedicated string. The piece measures 15 1/2" x 18 3/4" inches.

Here is where you can see this Antique wall-mounted automaton by the French maker Tharin.

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Spooky Love: A Danse Macabre - automaton book by Thomas Kuntz

Check out this recent work by sculptor and automaton maker, Thomas Kuntz.The beautiful leather-bound book when opened, features a pair of well-dress skeletons dancing under the moonlit sky. The music box movement, made by the renowned Reuge company, was adapted to power the scratch-built cam and lever system that makes the skeletons dance and the moon change size. Some interesting still shots towards the end of the video show some of the artist's in-process shots.

See more automata by Thomas Kuntz on his web site.

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Many wooden automata by Helen Sinden

Check out this very nicely made video featuring a great number of wood automata by Helen Sinden. If you like her style, there is contact information at the end of the video!

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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