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Automaton


Doll automaton

Doll raises the baa at specialist auction

06 May 2024

This rare 1880s Jean Roullet ‘Le Berger Watteau’ shepherdess with lamb automaton starred when the second part of one of the largest doll collections on offer in recent times went under the hammer.

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Gems from a golden age of French automata

20 February 2023

The Paris firm of Roullet & Decamps was famous for automata, walking and moving dolls and toys.

A c.1600-1610 elephant automaton clock

Elephant in the room: an exceptional clock

18 October 2021

A rare 17th century elephant automaton clock was the star of the Christie’s New York Exceptional sale when it sold at $2.15m (£1.58m) to a private buyer.

Qing dynasty musical automaton clock

Chinese Qing dynasty musical automaton clock – an amalgam of ingenuity and technical prowess – fetches over £1m at auction

24 June 2019

A Chinese musical automaton clock sailed over the £1m mark when it came up for sale at the Drouot auction centre in Paris.

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Nodding magician looks to cast spell at Potter & Potter

10 June 2019

This c.1900 French automaton is included in the next sale held by Chicago saleroom Potter & Potter specialist auction house of magic props and memorabilia.

singing bird box

Bird box to soar at County Durham autumn auction

15 September 2016

A 19th century singing bird box is a starring lot at an upcoming County Durham auction that features several animal-themed lots.

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Monkey business – Swiss museum buys automaton at Bristol auction

19 January 2016

A museum in Switzerland has acquired this extraordinary monkey band automaton at an online-only auction conducted by East Bristol Auctions, in Hanham, Bristol.