Musical Automaton
ca. 1875 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a wooden box with two monkey musicians. The handle at the back of the organ operates the monkeys who play eight different tunes. It is illustrated in a Silber and Fleming catalogue of 1876/77 and is an example of the sort of automaton which was possible to buy in exclusive shops and elegant department stores in the late 19th century. It is very much an adult's toy, probably made in France, which was renowned for its manufacture of luxurious and extravagant toys.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Wooden casing, with internal musical movement mechanism |
| Brief description | Monkey musicians automaton probably made in France about 1875 |
| Physical description | Two monkey faced automata stand on a wooden base. The handle at the back of the organ operates the monkeys who play eight tunes. |
| Credit line | Given by Dr J. P. D. Mounsey |
| Object history | The monkeys' clothing was in a very poor state when acquired and new clothes were made using the original ones as patterns.The colours are as near to those of the originals as possible. The mechanism was repaired by Camerer Cuss. The automaton is illustrated in the 1876-77 Silber and Fleming catalogue, page 322. |
| Historical context | I just read about your monkey automaton with interest. It may interest you to know that the monkey figures were supplied by the Parisian maker Alexandre Theroude to the retailer of musical instruments Thibouville Lamy, who assembled the barrel organ and automata together. The barrel organ itself originated in Mirecourt, France. The unit was made c. 1860 - 70. |
| Production | The monkey figures were supplied by the Parisian maker Alexandre Theroude to the retailer of musical instruments Thibouville Lamy, who assembled the barrel organ and automata together. The barrel organ itself originated in Mirecourt, France. The unit was made c. 1860 - 70. |
| Summary | This is a wooden box with two monkey musicians. The handle at the back of the organ operates the monkeys who play eight different tunes. It is illustrated in a Silber and Fleming catalogue of 1876/77 and is an example of the sort of automaton which was possible to buy in exclusive shops and elegant department stores in the late 19th century. It is very much an adult's toy, probably made in France, which was renowned for its manufacture of luxurious and extravagant toys. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | MISC.33-1965 |
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| Record created | December 24, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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