Automaton Clocks. An automaton clock or automata clock is a type of striking clock featuring automatons. Clocks like these were built from the 1st century BC through to Victorian times in Europe. A Cuckoo clock is a simple form of this type of clock.
The first known mention is of those created by the Roman engineer Vitruvius, describing early alarm clocks working with gongs or trumpets. Later automatons usually perform on the hour, half-hour or quarter-hour, usually to strike bells. Common figures in older clocks include Death (as a reference to human mortality), Old Father Time, saints and angels. In the Regency and Victorian eras, common figures also included royalty, famous composers or industrialists.
More recently constructed automaton clocks are widespread in Japan, where they are known as karakuri-dokei. Notable examples of such clocks include the Nittele Ōdokei, designed by Hayao Miyazaki to be affixed on the Nippon Television headquarters in Tokyo, touted to be the largest animated clock in the world. In the United Kingdom, Kit Williams produced a series of large automaton clocks for a handful of British shopping centres, featuring frogs, ducks and fish. Reference: Wikipedia
Below are some examples and price guides of automaton clocks including a novelty lighthouse clock and a clock in the form of an elephant.
A GOOD LATE 19TH CENTURY FRENCH AUTOMATA NOVELTY CLOCK WITH HELICAL SPRING
Guilmet, no.1050
Realistically modelled on a lighthouse with glazed head, turned balustrade, brickwork corners, windows and a door, on a stepped slate base and brass feet, the dial mounted in the first floor window with Roman numerals and blued steel spade hands, the movement with square plates bearing the Guilmet trademark with deadbeat Brocot style escapement, striking the hours and half hours on a coiled steel gong, with pendulum constructed from a pierced brass cylinder mounted to the top with a helical hairspring visible through a facetted glass sleeve. Together with an associated winding key. 59cms high
Sold for € 10,837 (US$ 11,014) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2021
A SILVERED BRONZE, ENAMELED SILVER AND GILT-BRONZE ELEPHANT AUTOMATON CLOCK
AUGSBURG, CIRCA 1600-1610
The clock is in the form of an elephant, with a howdah in the form of a castle tower, with four turbaned soldiers with raised scimitars which rotate around the tower, there are two enameled dials and two glass dials through which the clock works are visible, the elephant’s eyes move and he is accompanied by two mahouts, one riding on his back and a second walking alongside, all on a naturalistically-cast ground on a silver-mounted ebony and ebonized pearwood veneered base over an oak carcass, which encloses further mechanics which propel the automaton forward in a slight circle, the works are currently partially non-functioning but are largely intact and, with restoration, will almost certainly be able to function and detailed condition reports are available upon request.
Approximately 13.7 in. (35 cm.) height overall; 3.5 in. (9 cm.) height of pedestal; 10.2 in. (26 cm.) height of elephant from ground to top of tower
Sold for USD 2,610,000 at Christie’s in 2021
George III Ebonized and Brass-Mounted Automaton Clock by Spencer & Perkins, London
The 7 1/4-inch dial with flower-painted center, two-train four-pillar movement with signature dial Spencer & Perkins / London above a scene of workers making barrels flanked by trellises with grape clusters, with elaborately engraved backplate, the ebonized case with domed top, brass-mounted sound frets and corner finials, brass female herm canted corners and frets to the sides, raised on scrolled feet. Height 27 inches (68.6 cm).
Sold for $4,687 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2019
Gilt Architectural Musical Automaton Clock, C. 1870
Approximate Dimensions : 48cm*40cm
Sold for US$17,000 at Alden’s Auction in 2022
A lacquered brass and painted tôle automaton clock, English, composite
2¾-inch silvered dial beneath an aperture with automaton forge scene, the associated and earlier two train fusee movement with anchor escapement, shaped plates and rack striking on a bell, the rectangular case with brass carrying handle and painted to the front and sides with naive rural coaching scenes, on brass bracket feet
28cm 11in high; 19cm 7½in wide
Sold for 630 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2022
