Mechanical Box
Sand Toy
1850 - 1860 (made)
1850 - 1860 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
glass front cardboard box, covered on all side but the front with dark blue and cream marbled papers and around the edge of the glass with gold paper stamped with a column pattern (passe partout) over a brown strip of paper
the toy itself consists of the sand toy equipment inside the box fronted by a sheet of white paper showing in the centre suspended on a very fine wire is the figure of a woman;
the figure's feet rest on the base covered with patterned green, red and gold printed paper
the rest of the glass is infilled with a scalloped ridge of green tissue paper at the top and a strip of gold passe partout at the bottom
figure is of a woman dressed in 18th century clothing, printed in red blue and black, holding a yellow ribbon between her hands
jointed at the waist and both legs
*at the back there are layers of marbled paper and clear tape indicating that the box has been opened several times
To the back has been pasted a printed sheet giving the directions for use. This may not be original to the box.
"MECHANICAL BOX // WITH AUTOMATON // DIRECTIONS FOR ITS USE
To set it in motion, turn the box entirely round twice, towards the left, taking care to keep ti perpendicular, and with the glass front facing you, for without this precaution the mechanism will not act. Set it down perfectly upright, and the tumbler willbe in motion. While in operation, it must not be held in the hands. The motion may be diminished by gradually incling the box backwards. Sometimes, to perform will, the leaper requires to be inclined to the right or left. Damp will injure these boxes. Though substantially made, they should be managed with proper care. If, from want of use, or from being placed in an improper position, they will not act, a few taps on the top, with the palm of the hand, will suffice to put the mechanism in motion. Gerard Camagni
(it continues after the name)
This indicates the weather 24 hours in advance, with the greatest exactness. Should the mechanism stop, a change is to be expected, but as long as it keeps in motion, fair weather will continue."
the toy itself consists of the sand toy equipment inside the box fronted by a sheet of white paper showing in the centre suspended on a very fine wire is the figure of a woman;
the figure's feet rest on the base covered with patterned green, red and gold printed paper
the rest of the glass is infilled with a scalloped ridge of green tissue paper at the top and a strip of gold passe partout at the bottom
figure is of a woman dressed in 18th century clothing, printed in red blue and black, holding a yellow ribbon between her hands
jointed at the waist and both legs
*at the back there are layers of marbled paper and clear tape indicating that the box has been opened several times
To the back has been pasted a printed sheet giving the directions for use. This may not be original to the box.
"MECHANICAL BOX // WITH AUTOMATON // DIRECTIONS FOR ITS USE
To set it in motion, turn the box entirely round twice, towards the left, taking care to keep ti perpendicular, and with the glass front facing you, for without this precaution the mechanism will not act. Set it down perfectly upright, and the tumbler willbe in motion. While in operation, it must not be held in the hands. The motion may be diminished by gradually incling the box backwards. Sometimes, to perform will, the leaper requires to be inclined to the right or left. Damp will injure these boxes. Though substantially made, they should be managed with proper care. If, from want of use, or from being placed in an improper position, they will not act, a few taps on the top, with the palm of the hand, will suffice to put the mechanism in motion. Gerard Camagni
(it continues after the name)
This indicates the weather 24 hours in advance, with the greatest exactness. Should the mechanism stop, a change is to be expected, but as long as it keeps in motion, fair weather will continue."
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Mechanical Box (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | cardboard, paper, glass |
| Brief description | Gerard Camagni, French, 1850-60 |
| Physical description | glass front cardboard box, covered on all side but the front with dark blue and cream marbled papers and around the edge of the glass with gold paper stamped with a column pattern (passe partout) over a brown strip of paper the toy itself consists of the sand toy equipment inside the box fronted by a sheet of white paper showing in the centre suspended on a very fine wire is the figure of a woman; the figure's feet rest on the base covered with patterned green, red and gold printed paper the rest of the glass is infilled with a scalloped ridge of green tissue paper at the top and a strip of gold passe partout at the bottom figure is of a woman dressed in 18th century clothing, printed in red blue and black, holding a yellow ribbon between her hands jointed at the waist and both legs *at the back there are layers of marbled paper and clear tape indicating that the box has been opened several times To the back has been pasted a printed sheet giving the directions for use. This may not be original to the box. "MECHANICAL BOX // WITH AUTOMATON // DIRECTIONS FOR ITS USE To set it in motion, turn the box entirely round twice, towards the left, taking care to keep ti perpendicular, and with the glass front facing you, for without this precaution the mechanism will not act. Set it down perfectly upright, and the tumbler willbe in motion. While in operation, it must not be held in the hands. The motion may be diminished by gradually incling the box backwards. Sometimes, to perform will, the leaper requires to be inclined to the right or left. Damp will injure these boxes. Though substantially made, they should be managed with proper care. If, from want of use, or from being placed in an improper position, they will not act, a few taps on the top, with the palm of the hand, will suffice to put the mechanism in motion. Gerard Camagni (it continues after the name) This indicates the weather 24 hours in advance, with the greatest exactness. Should the mechanism stop, a change is to be expected, but as long as it keeps in motion, fair weather will continue." |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions | 7A 12 (hand written, lower back
Kendall Identification) |
| Object history | These sand toys were bought from the Evelyn Way Kendall Collection sale, at Sothebys, London on December 16, 1999. Three of the items are mid 19th century and the fourth was constructed by Mrs. Kendall's husband Henry W, in 1940. The Kendall Collection was very large and housed in a purpose built display near Boston, Mass. Sadly the collection was not on view to the general public even though it was part of a large complex which included a whaling museum open to the public. Few people had the privilege of seeing the collection in situ, however, I (Caroline Goodfellow) did see it in 1994 and spent an afternoon there. Unfortunately Mrs. Kendall, along with others of her age and purchasing power, had changed many of the dolls from their original state, re dressed, cleaned and "repaired". Many of the costumes were swopped around the dolls and it is only possible to know this now through old photos and sale catalogues. The toys, including the sand toys, were usually left alone and suffered little in the manner of the dolls. There has been some repair work, however, as Henry Kendall enjoyed the mechanical toys it is likely he did the work. Historical significance: Although the instructions indicate that the toy could be used for weather forecasting, they are not weather forecasting equipment. The reason it could be used is when the weather is damp it makes the flow of the sand more difficult and the mechanism will stop. Fair dry weather is best for the toy. |
| Historical context | Sand toys are mechanical devices with a long history, operated by fine sand from a hopper trickling on to a paddle wheel. The principles of the mechanism was known in ancient Egypt. Sets of paper cut out figures with jointed limbs were attached to the wheel, and would be animated through the action of the sand. The origins of this type of toy are are French, but other countries (including the UK, Germany and, much later, the USA) copied the principles and much later. This method was eventually succeeded by more robust mechanisms. The subjects depicted on sand toys were often whimsical or commemorative. Nineteenth century examples are rare, as the toys were fragile and easily broken. They were also not made in great numbers. Sand toys are occasionally reproduced today using the same principles. |
| Associated objects | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.10-2000 |
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| Record created | March 31, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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