(The Barecats, click for details)
In reading the Endicott Studio blog this week I came across a post linking to several sites featuring automata. I find these fascinating from both a nostalgic and mechanical point of view.
(Head-off Anubis, click for details)
These often humorous, always whimsical creations are created by Paul Spooner and Peter Markey and are featured at the online shop of the website for the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre. I am in awe of the mechanical skill needed to create these ‘simple’ working toys as well as the great sense of humor of the artists.
(The Mill Girl and the Toff, click for details)
For example, The Mill Girl and the Toff features the Toff on bended knee proposing to the mill girl. She is startled by this and her eyes pop out. Meanwhile their ancesters are below, turning over in their graves. I love it!
(Storm in a Teacup, click for details)
Each piece is so creative and even the titles are quaint reminders of the spark of creativity in the craftsman. In addition to the fact that these contemporary pieces hearken back to a simpler time I think I like them because when I see things made out of wood I have an automatic connection with my father who is himself a craftsman. I sit here typing this now on a beautiful desk that my father made for us several years ago.
(Drifting Apart, click for details)
There can also be a kind of melancholy sadness to these pieces as seen in the details of Drifting Apart and Invisible and Alone, pictured below.
(Invisible and Alone, click for details)
When the crack turns the spoon in the coffee turns, stirred by a lonely invisible hand.
The attention to detail in each piece is wonderful. Three dimensional works of art are as fascinating to me as their 2 dimensional counterparts and these pieces are just so fun. The Cabaret Mechanical Theatre site also has numerous, inexpensive paper toys that can be purchased and assembled. Two of my favorites are:
(Lilienthal’s Descendant, click for details)
and
(Fire Dragon, click for details)
I hope you enjoyed something a little different for this week’s Friday Favorites. You can see many more of this groups fanciful creations here as well as some quicktime movies of pieces in action here.
Their sense of humor:
(Sex Change, click for details)
and craftsmanship were such that I couldn’t resist sharing them with you today. To close this post I leave you with an image for Jenn See and the other followers of the fish. It is a Friday which means thoughts of Jenn and her passing. I know she would have enjoyed this one immensely. Love on those around you and have a magical weekend everyone!
(Fish, click for details)
Oh man…too freakin’ cool! I love these.
I really liked Fire Dragon and Storm in a Teacup – very cool stuff…
My mom and I went to a “Glass as Art” exhibit when I was in LA at LACMA. Some really cool pieces as well, and different from the usual clay sculptures or paintings…
These are wonderful! I love the creativity in the different themes.
These are extremely cool! Back when I did DT, (um, I think they call it woodshop in the US), we did a project on them, but needless to say no-one’s was as good as these. Really love Storm in a Teacup.
nice carl v. and very clever title 😉
for some reason, automata have always held a fascination for me. in some ways they have a more dramatic and even more romantic image than robots – just one step away from marionettes – like pinocchio without his strings.
if you can find any pictures from the game Syberia or Syberia II, the automata in the game are really neat. it’s a fun adventure game as well.
I’ll check it out Mysfit…glad someone got the title, thanks! The Endicott Studios site listed some books in the comments section of the post I linked to that have automata in the stories…look interesting.
My grandfather loved working with his hands, and he was always making some little trick toys for us, much like these, and sometimes much more intricate. He could make motors smaller than a 5 year olds fist, which he was quite proud of. Now they’re treasures.
Definitely treasures Jay!