German Automatons

Antique Automatons — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 08:39:54 +0000

German Automatons. Germany produced some amazing automatons which included singing bird boxes by Karl Griesbaum, cuckoo clocks, doll automatons and many others.

Below are some examples and price guides of German automatons including a silver singing bird box by Karl Griesbaum and a musical piano and violin automaton.

Karl Griesbaum Silver Singing Bird Automaton Box

German, early 20th century, serpentine form, the case with repousse putti playing musical instruments in a natural landscape, the hinged top concealing the singing bird, ht. 2, wd. 4, dp. 2 3/4 in.

Sold for US$1,920 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2023

German wind-up automation singing feathered bird in brass cage, features intermittent and continiual switch underside. Measures 9.5″H x 5″W.

Sold for US$360 at C Biddle Auction Gallery Inc. in 2023

Kittens Dancing for the Fiddler – Very Rare Coin Activated Automaton Bank

Made by an Unknown German Manufacturer. Produced and Sold in the Early 1900’s.

Sold for US$2,900 at The RSL Auction Company in 2023

German carved and polychromed wood and composition Automation – Drunk by Lamppost, fingers broken on left hand, works. 19”h

Sold for US$200 at Rachel Davis Fine Arts in 2023

German hand crank Musical Piano and Violin Automaton. Pair of bisque head figures that are well dressed and each playing their instruments. The toy is all original and in very nice condition. When you turn the crank both figures mover properly and the music plays perfectly. A wonderful early Automaton 15 1/2″ Excellent

Sold for US$1,450 at Milestone Auctions in 2023

Automaton monkey clock produced by Junghans. German, early 20th century. 1-day spring-driven clock topped with monkey with moving eyes and mouth that open and close as movements tick. Junghans maker’s mark on face of clock. Crystal of face is loose in place. Wear, scratches, and losses to patina and metal. Split and crack to metal on monkey’s head. Key is included. Clock has been wound, with clock running and eyes and mouth slowly opening and closing. Later screw on left side of clock. Back panel of clock is slightly loose.

Sold for US$225 at Willow Auction House in 2023

A turn of the century German Cast Iron novelty clock with Teeter-Totter automaton, possibly Lenzkirch. 30-hour time only movement. Minor finish wear

Sold for US$950 at Schmidt’s Antiques Inc. in 2023

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Chinese Automatons

Antique Automatons — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 06:33:15 +0000

Chinese Automatons. Accounts of automatons in China date from as early as the 3rd century BCE, during the Han dynasty, when a mechanical orchestra was made for the emperor. By the Sui dynasty, in the 6th and 7th centuries CE, automatons had become widespread, and a book titled Shuishi tujing (“Book of Hydraulic Elegancies”) was published. In the Tang period, from the 7th to the 10th century CE, automatons continued to be popular in imperial circles. There are records of flying birds, an otter that caught fish, and figures engaged in numerous activities ranging from a monk begging to girls singing. Reference: Britannica.

Below are some examples and price guides of Chinese automatons including a gilt bronze automaton clock and a fishing boy with his catch.

A CHINESE GILT BRONZE, RHINESTONE, AND GLASS AUTOMATON CLOCK
Second half 20th century
Signed Ying Qing C.
height 32in (81cm); width 16 1/2in (42cm); depth 13 1/2in (34cm)

Sold for S$31,562.50 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2020

AN IMPERIAL CHINESE ORMOLU, PASTE-SET PAINTED ENAMEL AND ALABASTER AUTOMATON ‘FISHING BOY AND HIS CATCH’ WITH CLOCKWORK MECHANISMS
GUANGZHOU WORKSHOPS, QIANLONG PERIOD (1736-1795)
AUTOMATON: the figure has an alabaster head carved and painted with a sweet expression, with bright eyes and a broad smile below hair worn in two topknots tied with red ribbons, and supported on a carved wood body dressed in a short orange silk jacket with gold braid on the sleeves and fastened at the neck and side with a small gilt-bronze button, over a pair of beige silk pants, and an embroidered shoe, the figure balanced on one knee while holding a bamboo fishing pole in his right hand and a catch basket in his left

Sold for USD 319,500 at Christie’s in 2017

A Chinese export French-style automaton clock
Early 20th century
Signed to mechanism: Cheon S’Nag Comton
Painted and enameled face with Roman numeral hour markers set in a decorative case with pineapple finial, mechanized leaves, tiered rotating figural merchant and animal scenes on four elaborate scrolled feet
Clock: 34″ H x 12.75″ W x 8.5″ D

Sold for US$34,375 at John Moran Auctioneers, Inc. in 2023

Very Rare Chinese ‘Legend of the White Snake’ Automaton
Painted wood, papier maché, enamel, silk and metal in three wood and glass casements raised on a later Hongmu wood stand; fitted with moving figures and animals amongst pavilions in landscapes.

Sold for US$18,000 at STAIR in 2022

SCARCE 19TH C. CARVED WOOD CHINESE AUTOMATON HEAD OF AN ACTOR

Carved and painted wood with inset glass eyes and what was a reticulated mouth but is now fixed in place, in remnants of red paint, used in the theatre and opera, on metal museum display stand, 10″ tall head only, roughly 15″ x 9″ x 8″ overall, well used.

Sold for US$550 at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in 2022

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Country of Origin Archives - Antique Automatons

German Automatons

Chinese Automatons