Automata and automaton

The history of automatons, or self-operating machines, dates back to ancient times. One of the earliest known examples of an automaton is the mythical figure of Pygmalion's statue, which was said to have been brought to life by the Greek god Zeus. In the ancient world, automatons were also used as tools for entertainment, with examples such as the hydraulic singing birds of ancient Rome and the mechanical puppets of ancient China.

In the Middle Ages, automatons were used in clock towers and other public places to mark the passing of time and to entertain the public. Some more... of these automatons were quite elaborate, with moving parts and mechanical functions that were powered by water or weights.

During the Enlightenment period of the 18th century, automatons became more sophisticated and were used to demonstrate scientific principles and innovations. In the 19th and 20th centuries, advances in technology and manufacturing led to the development of more complex and sophisticated automata for the consumer market and could be found fitted to clock, watches, dolls, robots and novelty items that could perform a wide range of tasks. less...

Automata include mechanically operated figures, mostly of the late 19th century, having a clockwork mechanism that moved their limbs, often with a musical accompaniment driven by a musical box movement. Amongst the popular subjects were sailors, piano players, women dancing, men smoking and comic monkeys. A separate genre was singing birds, where one or two were concealed in an ornate metal jewellery-style box and popped up, trilled and fluttered their wings when the device was operated. Another less common genre was in the form of an ornately framed oil painting that included several moving characters and perhaps the village more... clock. less...