A MECHANICAL BESTIARY !



This was to be the first exhibition ever devoted solely to automated clocks of the Renaissance. Also in a gallery which I did not know. The Kugel Gallery. Thank you Marielle as I certainly would not have gone but your description tempted me to!

 Over thirty automaton were on display.The largest collection ever assembled. A menagerie of exotic animals: lions, camels, elephants, bears, monkeys… animals dominate the automaton kingdom, but a few humans are there as well. A Turkish horseman swinging his sword, and lion and bear tamers pulling on leashes.

Give you an idea of how small they are


The young attendant saw me taken an interest in all the detail and whispered in my ear (yes really), that one of these little gems would chime any minute. It did, but so fast that I didn’t have time to  catch the movement and sound with my iPhone. Unfortunately this was the only one that did strike the hour while I was there. A video displayed the movements of each one. It brought a smile to my face.


Hardly kind to his camel -

                   Clocks in movement

I know a little more about this clocks now. At the end of the Middle Ages, the development of horology allowed the creation of the first automatan, at the crossroads between science and art. During the Renaissance, this dream took the form of luxurious clocks representing animals and humans, destined for the pleasure of princes. They date from 1580 to 1630 and were for the most part created in Augsburg, the main German artistic centre of the time.

Rolling eyes


All that gold...


Elephant





Face on

I loved this dog - no gold at all...




Rolling eyes again

Very proud King of the Lions



King of the Lions again

Looks a heavy load

No more camel, I heard your chimes

Another animal feeling the lash



A bear tamer




I imagine that you needed to be a prince or someone very important at a European court to possess such a clock. They were also used as diplomatic presents during the 16th century and later were regularly sent to the Sultan in Istanbul, as part of the yearly tribute paid by the Empire in order to preserve peace. In the 17th century, Jesuit priests presented automaton clocks - along with other works of art and scientific curiosities - to the Chinese Emperor, hoping these gifts would help spread Christian ideas throughout Asia.

400 years  after their creation, the animals of this mechanical kingdom continue to fill us with awe and wonder. They did me. 

The gallery full of antiquities was not really « my thing » but I wandered through the riches which has belonged to Kings, Queens and the very wealthy. Some caught my eye….



A barometer around 1810

The Escape to Egypt : pearls, emeralds, gold...around 1640 by Francois Roberday

A very rare chess board used by Emperors and handed down (1715-18)


Quite a chandelier

I looked at my watch as I came out….that hour and a half had flown by.

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