BOY & SINGING GOOSE MUSICAL AUTOMATON | France, depicts a clown suited French bisque head boy who moves arm and head about like conductor while attempting to conduct a standing goose by music stand, goose raises head and melody emits from the base. | 17.5″ h. | Some age wear to cloth on one box base

Sold for US$800 at Bertoia Auctions in 2023

Musical Manivelle Automaton Carousel, c. 1890
Germany, with three boys on horses and three girls in chariots, decorated with wood ball finials on red wire stems, velvet ribbon and silk trim, the riders with bisque heads, molded hair and original costumes, on grained paper-covered base with floral transfer and hand-turned movement playing a single tune as the carousel revolves, height 13 1/2 in. (34 cm), base 8 in. (20 cm) square, overall good original cosmetic condition, missing two chariot wheels, boys and horses missing assorted legs, base slightly bowed, partially operative, mechanism not opened for inspection.

Sold for €750 at Auction Team Breker in 2022

Musical Doll Puppeteer Automaton
Circa 1900. Boy is dressed in period fabric costume with fine lace work and puppeteering a marionette. Head and hands are made from porcelain with realistic features. The figure is standing on a square plinth base containing the musical automaton mechanism. Comes with winding key.
Ht. 19 1/2 in.

Sold for US$1,000 at Cottone Auctions in 2023

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

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

An exceptional, fine and rare 18K gold key wind open face automaton pocket watch with enamel, seed pearl and diamond decoration
Date: Circa 1870
Movement: Gilt full plate fusee verge, 3-arm brass balance
Dial: White, black Roman numerals, black outer minute track, winding aperture at 8, gilt hands
Case: Seed pearl set polychrome enamel scene to back depicting a winged putti with an arrow and laurel wreath and a second putti with an injured foot either side of an ornate urn, concealed automaton scene to cuvette with automaton couple moving on a seesaw with the male reaching stone set hanging fruit, in the foreground a finely engraved dog and two sheep rest, in the background an enamel pastoral scene beside a watermill with stone set automaton sails, winding aperture near the fruit tree
Size: 56mm
Weight: 131,00g

Sold for €63,375 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2022

An industrial automaton windmill clock, late 20th century, after a design of Guilmet, the silvered and gilt brass case in the form of a windmill, the partially-silvered clock face with a Roman numeral dial, underneath a silvered barometer dial, with two spirit thermometers on either side, the door concealing the keyhole for the automaton mechanism, on a circular black slate base, 45cm high

Sold for £2,100 at Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers in 2022

A LATE 19TH CENTURY MUSICAL DIORAMA AUTOMATON CLOCK UNDER DOME having a rotating windmill and waterwheel, the enamel dial with Roman numerals fronting an eight-day spring-driven movement under a glass oval dome on gilt moulded plinth (30cm high, 42cm wide.)

Sold for £1,050 at Hutchinson Scott Auctioneers in 2021

A 20th century musical diorama with automata, the scene contained in a gilt, composition ornamented frame and featuring two sailing ships near a cliff lined coastline, with cottage and windmill on a bluff above the cliffs, and background with painted sky, clouds, and birds, the ships rocking and windmill sails turning accompanied by a two tune cylinder music box when activated by a button at the right side of the frame

Sold for US$275 at Schmitt Horan & Co. in 2021

ERZGEBIRGE MUSICAL VILLAGE CRANK AUTOMATON

Very beautiful 1900s German Crank Musical Train and Village. Wonderful German diorama of Train going there the Mountains with a Village and Windmill. Very nice details and colors. Looks all original. Turn the crank and music works.

Sold for US$1,600 at Milestone Auctions in 2021

A very fine third quarter of the 19th century, dated, Black Forest brass-inlaid walnut automata clock depicting a drinker on a barrel with four automata functions
Retailed by Camerer Kuss & Co, 522, Oxford Street, W.C., LONDON. The barrel dated 1865.

Sold for £7,650 at Bonham’s in 2022

Two German Black Forest Carved Whistler Automatons
late 19th century
the first automaton marked “Germany” and the movement marked “Made in Germany”; the second automaton signed with tag “Max Andres, Uhrenfabrik, Schwenningen N. Wttbg” and the movement marked “Germany”
19 1/2 x 6 x 3 1/2 inches (largest)

Sold for US$950 at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in 2022

Waldkirch Automaton Organ by Bruder, c. 1860
Black Forest, barrel organ, playing 8 melodies, with 22 clavis and 1 bar clavis, 4 optional stops, fourteen carved and painted moving figures (Napoleon on horseback, money collector, African tribal chief with child on his shoulder, four figures with birds on a perch, a dance circle with conductor and various other figures), inlaid and veneered case with hinged front, embossed brass sound fret and inner lid with tune sheet, barrel wd. 19 1/3 in., case dimensions ht. 20 1/2 x wd. 23 3/5 x dp. 13 in., figures over painted, good restored playing condition.

Sold for €45,000 at Auction Team Breker in 2021

Rare Black Forest Carved Automatron Dwarf Jewelers

Black Forest 13 1/2” by 13” Carved Wood Automaton. In the form of a wedding ring factory with gnomes making gold rings. Comes with motor and light. Very Good condition

Sold for US$10,000 at Fox Auctions in 2021

Rare Coin-Activated Musical Cabaret Dancer Automaton by Edouard-Henry Phalibois, c. 1900
Depicting a young woman dancing on a stage, the figure with original paint, brown glass eyes with articulated lids, shapely papier-mache torso and legs, articulated at shoulders, waist, hips and knees, with large brass going-barrel movement with four-winged governor, two-air cylinder movement and five boxwood cams with steel runners causing the figure to bend from the waist, raise her arms in unison and each leg alternately, ht. 29 ½ in. (75 cm), figure 23 ¼ in. (59 cm), with winding ratchet, unrestored partially working condition, coin-trip mechanism partially extant, coin-slot present but disconnected, missing base and case

Sold for €2,500 at Auction Team Breker in 2022

1900, SWISS: A very nice original coin operated railway station box with 42cm (16 – 1/2″) cylinder playing eight tunes. Four dancers and a mechanical cobbler picture mounted in the back. The cobbler three-dimensional picture is not believed to be original to the station box, but is connected with linkage to the music box and operates as the music plays and the dancers dance.

Sold for US$6,500 at Dan Morphy Auctions in 2022

FRENCH BISQUE AUTOMATON “DANCER WITH TAMBOURINE” BY VICHY. 17”. Marks: 1300 – 3 Dep, S & H. Upon a tall velvet covered wooden base is a bisque-head doll having blue stationary glass eyes, painted lashes, feathered brows, open mouth, accented lips, upper teeth, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig, carton torso with wire upper arms, bisque forearms and hands, wearing red silk and velvet fitted costume with lace bodice and ivory silk sleeves, red silk slippers; holds a bell-decorated tambourine in her right hand, and wooden stick with tassel; as the music plays she nods her head from side to side as her right hand twists back and forth at the wrist to shake the tambourine.

Sold for US$1,800 at Frasher’s Doll Auction in 2022

Attributed to Roullet & Decamps, France, a late 19th century “Turkish Dancer” automaton, with bisque head, shoulder plate and arms, the head signed “Depose Tete Jumeau”, and with pierced ears, blue glass eyes, blond hair, and closed mouth, the figure dressed in colorful costume and shaking a tambourine held in her left hand, her right arm moving up and down from the shoulder, and rocking her head left and right while a tune plays, all on a burgundy velvet covered base with turned feet, containing the clockwork movement and single air music box

Sold for US$2,600 at Schmitt Horan & Co. in 2022

Rare Antique German Automaton Kestner #146 Doll in Working Condition! Fantastic antique doll automaton, twirls and dances. She measures approximatelty 51 inches tall. Marked Made in Germany N 146 on the back of the neck.

Sold for US$1,800 at Brimfield Antique Shows & Auctions in 2022

A 20th century caged singing bird automaton
probably French, in the 19th century style
the feathered bird with beak head and tail movements mounted on a floral entwined perch, the canted domed cage with knop suspension loop, on foliate mounted conforming giltwood base and bun feet, with crank handle, 53.5cm high overall

Sold for £1,530 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2022

Continental Automaton Singing Bird in Gilt-Metal Cage
On a giltwood stand. Height overall 12 inches, width 8 1/2 inches, depth 6 1/2 inches.

Sold for $535 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2021

French Gilt Birdcage Automaton. The wood bottom of the cage is embossed: “Made in France.” The birds open their beaks and turn their heads along with the clear cheeping sound. The bottom of the cage is lined with green felt. 20in. h. x 11in. diam. Condition: Works not warranted, may need care. The bird models are in good/clean condition. The gilt cage is in good condition with light scratches/wear.

Sold for US$2,000 at Turner Auctions + Appraisals in 2022

A gilt-bronze double jumping and singing bird musical automaton with waterfall and timepiece in the manner of Jaquet-Droz and Leschot, Swiss, circa 1800

the octagonal cage with finely pierced and engraved cagework and enclosing two painted metal birds with automaton beaks, wings and tails and jumping between branches, to the rear is a revolving glass rod automaton simulating water cascading from a lion’s mouth, the base of the cage containing the automaton movement with chain fusee, a complex series of cams controlling the movement of the birds and their singing, the integral plinth with 1¾-inch enamel dial with regulation sector, the timepiece movement with chain fusee and verge escapement with plain three-arm balance, triggering a further two-tune musical movement with 2¼-inch cylinder and steel comb signed H Capt, the whole with stylised floral mounts, the corners with trophy mounts and the ends with roundels depicting the arts, on paw feet

38.5cm. 15¼in. high

Sold for 100,800 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2020

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

Sold for USD 2,610,000 at Christie’s in 2021

Unusual Elephant with Rider and Mahout Musical Manivelle Automaton
Germany, maker unknown. Bristle-mohair-covered papier-mâché elephant with articulated head and trunk, rider and a mahout with painted bisque heads marked with anchor and initials “L.C.”, glass eyes and carved wood limbs, dressed in jackets and turbans (not removed for inspection), on paper-covered base with hand-turned musical movement causing the elephant to nod and the rider to nod while the mahout turns his head and raises a stick

Sold for €900 at Auction Team Breker in 2020

A PRISONER-OF-WAR BONE SPINNING JENNY, FRENCH, EARLY 19TH CENTURY, with articulated head and arms and moving wheels in the base, on wooden base and accompanied by glasse dome, 5in (13cm) high

Sold for £ 1,750 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2017

NAPOLEONIC PRISONER-OF-WAR CARVED BONE MINIATURE SPINNING JENNY
Early 19th Century
Of typical form, with functional spinning wheel.
Height 3.75”.

Sold for US$3,750 at Eldred’s in 2022

BEAR WINDOW DISPLAY AUTOMATON. This is an electric window attention-getting commercial display with a bear balancing a package on its nose. When plugged in, the bear moves, and the package spins. A great motion display for a children’s play area, or repurposed to a commercial application. Condition shows some areas of wear due to use, however it is in great original condition and comes with its original shipping box.

Sold for US$425 at Dan Morphy Auctions in 2022

Wooden Musical Bear Organ Grinder Automaton circa 1900 – the bear playing an organ and has a basket on its back, stands on a natural form base
8 1/4 in. high.

Sold for US$750 at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in 2021

Automaton Jester & Bear
Early 20th century. Porcelain bisque head.
Ht. 20 W 8 in. Sold for US$800 at Cottone Auctions in 2020

Roullet & Decamps Drinking Bear Automaton. Paris, ca. 1940s. Electric bear automaton, brown and white fur with composition nose, feet, and mouth, glass eyes. Bear performs the action of pouring liquid from the bottle into the cup, then raises to his mouth, lowers and repeats. Height 13”. Nice functioning example with soft and clean coat, some chipping to feet and paws but very good overall. Sold for US$700 at Potter & Potter Auctions in 2020