News FeedDay 34 – Tipu’s Tiger
December 15, 2009 by admin
Tonight we bring you a really magnificent new piece from Carlos Zapata, inspired by the well known 18th century automaton at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. (see below)
An unfortunate employee of the British East India Company is being savaged by a vicious tiger. Above him his fellow soldiers are on a campaign of war against the Indian Kingdom of Mysore, and further up we see the Sultan of Tipu, who was very fond of tigers, turning the handle of his own Tiger automaton.
Tipu’s Tiger by Carlos Zapata – £8950 (excl. VAT)
Height 1.3 metres
SOLD
Day 33 – The Search
December 14, 2009 by admin
Paul Spooner has stayed up late again… and made four of these intriguing pieces. Unusually the mechanism is not viewable, so guesswork is required.
Action. On turning the handle, the snorkeller undertakes an urgent and thorough search into all four corners of his patch of sea.
Caption on label “A lone snorkeller quarters a turquoise sea. The tropical hardwoods used in this piece have been responsibly harvested from antique furniture”.
The Search by Paul Spooner – £195 (excl. VAT)
Dims:
80mm wide
60mm deep
95mm high
Only 4 available.
SOLD OUT
Day 32 – The Wiggling Figure
December 13, 2009 by admin
We have one only of these beautiful pieces – the perfect last minute gift, (maybe for yourself!)
This androgynous piece was originally a one-off by Paul Spooner which graced the entrance of the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre in Covent Garden, splendid in it’s glass dome. The movement is derived from the rotating pelvis, (which is where all the best movements start,) and the face of the figure is reminiscent of the emcee of the Kit Kat Club in the film ‘Cabaret’ – so as they say.. ‘Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome, in Cabaret, au Cabaret, to Cabaret!
The piece was re-created by the 14 Ball Toy Co in the 1990′s as an unlimited but inevitably small edition.
21cm high,
7cm wide.
One only,
£350 (excl. VAT)
SOLD OUT
Day 31 – The Magic Book – Part 1
December 12, 2009 by admin
Here’s some entertainment for Saturday night.
Michael and Maria Start of Automatomania (pictured with lifesize automaton Nancy) have produced this playful introduction to antique Magic Automata especially for us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFMJPLzdAfQ
Michael and Maria are also working on a wonderful magic trick called the ‘Satyr Head of Mystery’
This is the prototype of a classic apparatus from the age of Robert Houdin. The finished head will awaken and perform powered by a precision clockwork motor (not by Maria!).
Made of strong papier mache, gessoed and painted with leather eyelids and fine glass eyes in the tradition of the Parisian automata makers.
Designed to produce one or two items from the mouth and top of the head. The final issue is due to awaken in the Spring of 2010, expressions of interest are invited.
Day 30 – Antique Automaton Dogs
December 11, 2009 by admin
These two wonderful antique automata dogs are looking for good homes (and not just for Christmas!).
Dachshund Automaton Dog
His name is “Roman” and he is a life sized papier mache automaton dog. Made in Paris around 1900 by the Roullet & Decamps family. The clockwork mechanism makes him nod his head and open and shut his mouth for about 20 minutes. Roman has a suede skin and a history that is quite tragic. During restoration about 12 airgun pellets were removed from his head. He is happy now and looking forward to a new owner who will look after him.
Barking Bulldog
Made in Paris around 1880 this life size papier mache bulldog has a nodding head and a gruff bark that makes people jump!
Approximately 28 inches long he is life sized and very realistic.
Both dogs are for sale, please e-mail Michael Start of Automatomania if you are interested in purchasing one of these pets.
Michael Start: m.start70@btinternet.com
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