The most valuable examples are constructed of precious materials, exquisitely finished and boast fully functional internal mechanisms. The second type of automaton are those decorative objects appreciated solely for their beauty and complex engineering. On a much smaller scale, a cuckoo clock is perhaps the most famous example of a timepiece featuring an automaton - a combination both practical and whimsical.
These humanoid automatons frequently dance or strike a bell at set times throughout the day. For example, during the late medieval and Renaissance periods, many European towns constructed large public clocks that featured mechanical figures. Of the first type, unique clocks and watches with integrated automatons are the most common. Generally speaking, there are two types of automatons: those that accompany a functional object and those that are independent, created purely for decoration and pleasure.įrench Musical Automaton Picture Clock. These kinetic or moving sculptures have entertained and inspired awe in their audiences for thousands of years. The word “automaton” (plural: automatons or automata) comes from the Greek αὐτόματον, which means “acting of one’s own will.” Automatons are mechanical objects that follow a prescribed set of movements once they are manually set into motion.
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