It was late at night in the West Dean workshop when I decided to make a little toy automaton for my husband Thomas for Christmas one year. As we both love foxes and I was literally an ocean away, I decided to make a little fox on a boat at sea. As you turn the [...]
Category: Automata
George Pyke’s Musical Clock
I had the privilege of working with Conservator Ian Fraser at Temple Newsam House in Leeds, England. Together, we worked for two years on the prospect of making conservation works to an important piece in the collection possible. The house holds this treasure in its stairwell. A musical clock made in 1765. The clock stands in [...]
The Silver Case for the Automaton Ship
Case making is no easy feat! Being a silver-smith is one of the nobler pursuits (in my opinion). John Norgate, my mentor and silver-smith extraordinaire, is one of the most spectacular people I have ever met (but I am probably biased). From the way he shuffles about to the way he always says "Ta!" as [...]
The Automaton Ship
My favorite restoration object came to me in a small metal tobacco tin as a broken mechanism with the promise of great reward. It’s small – about 3 cm across by 4 cm high and 2 cm deep. It’s known as the fairy ship – a miniature ship automaton that plays “God Save the King”. [...]
The Gentleman Smoker- The Mechanism
The mechanism of the Smoker is rather simple. The train is driven by a single spring driven barrel. Attached to the barrel is a series of cams that control the motions of the Smoker - the movement of the head, the opening and closing of the mouth, and the lifting of the hands. The barrel [...]