Day 10 – Applause Machine

A round of applause as this evening we complete the first quarter of the ‘Magic of Cabaret’.

Push the button and the Applause Machine claps it’s hands for you. Perfect to celebrate all your daily achievements.

Martin Smith and the team at Laikingland have introduced some new colours to the Applause Machine range. We thought that the new ‘Mecanno Blue’ was particularly beautiful.

Day 9 – The Harlequin

The master of contemporary Magic automata, Pierre Mayer has produced a new design for 2009, The Harlequin.

The piece is based on a trick which the magician Robert Houdin made popular in his theatre.
In this version, you see a closed trunk, you turn the handle the Harlequin pops out to sit at the edge, if you continue to turn the handle he disappears inside the trunk that closes.

BUT you can pause when he is seated and two levers in the back (that you actlvate your index finger) makes him move his head in a very clear way, sideways for no or downward for yes. This gives the opportunity for the spectators to ask questions to the Harlequin who will be delighted to answer.

We first met Pierre Mayer during our Christmas Exhibition at the OXO gallery in London in 2004. Pierre had been inspired by visiting Cabaret Mechanical Theatre in Covent Garden many years ago, and then used his skills as a magician to develop a series of magic automata. The Harlequin is the seventh piece in the series. The tricks are often based on real magicians and their stage show magic, including the classic Orange Tree shown here with Pierre in his workshop.

Day 8 – Moveable Illustration

This evening we present a new edition of the book ‘Moveable Illustration’ by the late Japanese automata maker Aquio Nishida.

This is a new edition of the book and is imported from Japan. It has some English text, and plenty of designs for making your own pieces of automata to Aquio’s designs.

Moveable Illustration – £30
SOLD OUT until after Christmas.

Day 7 – Red Cabbage Man

This is a one-off piece from Carlos Zapata.

If you are looking for a piece of automata to adorn your kitchen or dining area this will be a beautiful addition to your collection.

Red Cabbage Man – £500 (ex VAT)

Height 30cm
Width 40cm
Depth 35cm

Day 6 – The Bunny Girl

John Lumbus created this Bunny Girl automata in 1998 and made a total of 30 during the following year.

The piece has a wonderful mechanism, turn the handle and the ears move, breast spins and carrot vibrates!

The text reads -

The Bunny Girl
Jane could barely hide her excitement at discovering the world’s first vibrating carrot.

We have one only available for sale, a real collector’s item.
This piece is number 27 and is dated June 1999.

Day 5 – Decoy

This evening we are pleased to present this lovely piece by Japanese automata maker Kazu Harada called ‘Decoy’.

The piece is beautifully carved, a sculpture which would grace any room.
Turn the handle for a surprise, the duck lays an egg, which then disappears.

Kazu spent a year studying in the UK in 2006 at University College Falmouth, and worked closely with Matt Smith and Fourteen Ball Toy Company where he developed his own style.

His piece ‘Banana Boat’ is currently on display at the CMT exhibition in DASA.

Day 4 – Tempus Fugit

This evening we bring you ‘Tempus Fugit’ a mechanical tableau by Simon Venus.
A very decorative piece, which comes to life at the turn of the handle.

Simon made this piece originally as a gift for Paul Spooner on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

There are three pieces available in this small edition.

Day 3 Sand Toys

‘The Musicians of Bremen’ is a sand operated mechanical paper kit by German paper artist Walter Ruffler.

Based on the famous fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, in which a donkey, a dog, a cat and a cockerel decide to become musicians in the North German town of Bremen.
Here we see the donkey tirelessly at the keyboard, as long as the sand keeps running.

This toy is powered by a sand motor. From a hopper in the upper part of the model sand trickles on a lever like an hourglass. As the weight of the sand gets heavier, the lever comes down which makes the forelegs go up. The forelegs and lever are connected by a toothpick as an axle. The sand glides down from the sloping lever and it raises up again.

Day 2 – Fingers

As the second night falls on Friday 13th…. we are bringing you something slightly unnerving.

The artist Nik Ramage has teamed up with Laikingland to produce a very special limited edition of his “Fingers” kinetic sculpture.

This piece is an eternally tapping copy of the artist’s own hand.

At the flick of a switch the resin cast fingers drum rhythmically until switched off. Keep it on your desk, and switch it on for those ponderous moments. Flick it off again when the muse strikes

They are only manufacturing 10 pieces this year and they will all be cast and assembled by the artist himself. These 10 pieces will be numbered and stamped as Artist’s Proofs and they are disappearing fast!

Nik Ramage describes himself as a mechanical sculptor who makes useless machines and invents contraptions that the world didn’t know it needed, such as this jelly wobbler machine.

Day 1 – Goat Kicking Bucket

We now have a new edition from the 14 Balls Toy Company of the original Goat featured on that newsletter.
‘Goats and Stress’
As everyone who has owned a goat will tell you they can be notoriously grumpy which in time can lead to stress and depression.
It is possible to employ a ‘Goat Counsellor’ to remedy the situation.
Alternatively this simple bucket device will do the job just as well!

Goats have featured in Paul Spooners designs since the early days. Have a look at the gallery below to see some examples.

So until tomorrow.