These items have been sold, and the description, image and price ($US) are for reference purposes only.

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 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 more... 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...

A silver pair-cased and enamelled farmer's pocket watch, maker…
Enamelled Farmer's Pocket Watch by John Martin, English Circa 1803

A silver pair-cased and enamelled farmer's pocket watch, maker John Martin English Circa 1803 1.93 in. diameter, 2.76 in. high, 2.13 in. case diameter. A silver pair-cased and enamelled farmer's pocket watch, maker John Martin. English Circa 1803. Silver…

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An antique black forest automaton novelty mantel clock, the…
Antique Black Forest Automaton Novelty Mantel Clock, Gothic Chapel Design

An antique black forest automaton novelty mantel clock, the movement by Gordian Hettich &, Sohn, Furtwangen, circa 1900, the eight day movement with spring drive, strike on bell and two hammers. The Roman numeral dial and movement set in walnut case in

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An antique Swiss musical automaton novelty mantel clock,…
Swiss Musical Automaton Novelty Mantel Clock, Late 19th Century

An antique Swiss musical automaton novelty mantel clock, Kriegel &, Hartmann, Geneva, the movement by Gordian Hettich &, Sohn, Furtwangen, late 19th century, eight day movement, spring driven with anchor escapement, striking the hours on three gongs,

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French novelty automaton industrial clock, late 19th century,…
French Industrial Automaton Clock, 19th Century, with Presentation Case

French novelty automaton industrial clock, late 19th century, modelled as an industrial steam engine, with large automaton fly wheel and piston, driven by a large barrel housed in the base, the front ornamented with mock brickwork and furnaces, with silver

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Erotic automaton an interesting Swiss pocket watch in gun metal…
Swiss Erotic Automaton Pocket Watch

Erotic automaton an interesting Swiss pocket watch in gun metal case with enamel dial, subsidiary second dial and Arabic numerals, 19th century, the reverse of the movement displaying a silver and gilt automaton erotic scene operated by winding the crown i

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Arnex a gold plated musical automaton openface pocketwatch with…
Arnex Musical Automaton Pocketwatch with Falconer and Horse Automata

Arnex a gold plated musical automaton openface pocketwatch with alarm circa 1980, dial: demi-dial on applied idyllic background with automaton of a falconer watering his horse at a trough with a lady operating a pump which flows simulated water, movement:

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A pair cased verge watch by E Chapman, London, 1807, an…
E Chapman Automata Verge Watch, London 1807

A pair cased verge watch by E Chapman, London, 1807, an automata windmill to the polychrome dial, 2.17 in. diameter

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Formerly Property of the Estate of Count John Francis McCormack,…
Rare Platinum Patek Philippe Wristwatch with Diamond-Set Case Back

Formerly Property of the Estate of Count John Francis McCormack, Patek Philippe a rare platinum wristwatch circa 1930, dial: silvered, Breguet numerals, calibre: manual winding, 18 jewels, movement number: 824595, case: large curved hinged rectangular, cas

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A German whistling automaton happy drunk figure, early 20th…
Antique Collection: Clocks, Barometer, Automaton & Scholar Figure

A German whistling automaton happy drunk figure, early 20th century, an English oak cased aneroid wall barometer, a ships wheel clock, and patinated spelter figure of a seated Renaissance scholar, (4 items). The largest 14.17 in. high.

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A German automaton cuckoo clock with waterwheel and woodcutters,…
Mid-century German Cuckoo Clock with Waterwheel and Woodcutters

A German automaton cuckoo clock with waterwheel and woodcutters, painted dial with triple weight movement, mid 20th century, 11.81 in. overall

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English automaton fusee bracket clock with prancing horses,…
English Automaton Fusee Bracket Clock with Prancing Horses

English automaton fusee bracket clock with prancing horses, walnut and brass case with hand-painted face, circa 1840, 14.57 in. high. Provenance the Tudor House Clock Museum, Yarrawonga

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A William Mann silver verge escapement automaton pair case…
William Mann Silver Verge Escapement Automaton Watch

A William Mann silver verge escapement automaton pair case watch, gilt fullplate movement with fusee, pierced and engraved balance cock with face of green man. Verge escapement. Plain round columns. The fullplate signed Willm Mann with serial number 969. T

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A 14 carat gold erotic automaton hunter case pocket watch, the…
Erotic Gold Hunter Case Pocket Watch with Automaton

A 14 carat gold erotic automaton hunter case pocket watch, the white enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer five minute register, and subsidiary dial for constant seconds, the cuvet opening to reveal an engraved dairy scene with polychrome enamel milkmaid

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An ormolu automaton mantel clock, Le Roy de Paris, circa 1820…
Ormolu Automaton Mantel Clock - Le Roy de Paris (1820)

An ormolu automaton mantel clock, Le Roy de Paris, circa 1820 the case in the form of a twin turreted castle and moat, the French mechanism causing the boat to rock, approximately 24.02 in. x 16.73 in. x 10.43 in. including base, clock movement signed.…

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A rare large automaton birdcage clock with working mechanism…
Automaton Birdcage Clock with Singing Birds

A rare large automaton birdcage clock with working mechanism when alarm is activated birds start singing

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A rare 18th century ebonised bracket clock with Carillon and…
18th Century Carillon and Bird Automaton Bracket Clock

A rare 18th century ebonised bracket clock with Carillon and bird automaton, made by John Henry Borrell (1757-1840). The ebonised wood case with ornamental brass inlays, gilt applications and enamel dial. The case in the shape of a neo-Gothic arch. Beneath

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A rare black forest automata clock, circa 1880, modelled as a…
Black Forest Automata Clock with Female Figure

A rare black forest automata clock, circa 1880, modelled as a house, the upper body featuring a female with broom. The weight driven clock with 30 hour movement. 24.80 in. high (excluding weights and chains). Provenance: the Ken Hose collection

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A Charles Reuge a Saint Croix musical automata alarm pocket…
Reuge Musical Automata Alarm Pocket Watch

A Charles Reuge a Saint Croix musical automata alarm pocket watch signed Reuge c.1960, 17 jewel lever movement with attached pinned cylinder movement, alarm hand, printed landscape scene with automata of a lady operating a water pump and a falconer on hors

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George III inlaid longcase clock, London, circa 1760, by John…
George III Inlaid Longcase Clock by John Dene, London 1760

George III inlaid longcase clock, London, circa 1760, by John Dene of London, set with a circular dial white dial set with Roman numerals, showing seconds dates, with automata to movement to the upper dial, chiming on the half hour and hour, set within a a

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A Charles Reuge a Saint Croix musical automata alarm pocket…
Reuge Musical Automata Alarm Pocket Watch

A Charles Reuge a Saint Croix musical automata alarm pocket watch, signed Reuge c.1960, 17 jewel lever movement with attached pinned cylinder movement, alarm hand, printed landscape scene with automata of a lady operating a water pump and a falconer on hor

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New Haven Clock Co. 'Lighthouse' 30 hour automaton clock in…
1889 New Haven Clock Co. 'Lighthouse' Automaton Clock

New Haven Clock Co. 'Lighthouse' 30 hour automaton clock in metal case, circa 1889, 12.60 in. high

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Birdcage singing bird novelty clock, nickel plated, suspended…
Singing Birdcage Clock on Porcelain Base

Birdcage singing bird novelty clock, nickel plated, suspended on a floral porcelain base, early 20th century, 10.24 in. high

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Young Wizard French chiming clock with automaton figural top,…
French Wizard Chiming Clock with Automaton Figural Top

Young Wizard French chiming clock with automaton figural top, slate, bronze and ormolu with silvered dial, circa 1860, three train movenment with duplex springs, top adorned with a nest of 4 bells which are struck by the wizard figure on the quarter hour.

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J. P. Brevete impressive French automaton clock in glass dome…
French Automaton Clock with Flying Birds and Water Fountain

J. P. Brevete impressive French automaton clock in glass dome on gilded base, circa 1880, adorned with three flying birds, full whistler, swimming swans and duck, water fountain and time and strike timepiece, in remarkable condition this piece was one of t

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An amusing French automaton mantel clock, white marble and gilt…
French Automaton Mantel Clock with Amusing Mechanism

An amusing French automaton mantel clock, white marble and gilt bronze case inscribed 'Honi Soit Qi Mal Y Pense' with a figure of a young woman and removable basket of flowers revealing her obeying a call of nature (automaton mechanism can be seen behind h

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Bontems French automaton 15 day time and stick musical mantel…
Bontems French Automaton Mantel Clock with Twittering Bird

Bontems French automaton 15 day time and stick musical mantel clock with twittering bird which flits from branch to branch, circa 1855, 12.60 in. high

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Rare French erotic automaton mantel clock, hand-painted and…
French Erotic Automaton Mantel Clock

Rare French erotic automaton mantel clock, hand-painted and gilt decorated metal case with romantic couple, time piece only with manually activated automaton erotica displayed in hidden window, early to mid 19th century, with additional timber case with se

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'Water Wheel' French Industrial automaton 8 day timepiece with…
French Water Wheel Industrial Automaton Clock

'Water Wheel' French Industrial automaton 8 day timepiece with barometer and thermometer in gilt metal case with slate base, circa 1900, 13.19 in. high

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French 'Windmill' automaton clock, bronze finished metal case…
French Windmill Automaton Clock, 1890

French 'Windmill' automaton clock, bronze finished metal case with enamel dial, circa 1890. This clock has two separate wind movements, one for the hands, the other to strike the bell and move the mill, placard below the doors read 'Moulin Joly, 16.54 in.…

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A French automaton clock in glass dome on gilded base, circa…
French Automaton Clock with Flying Birds and Water Fountain

A French automaton clock in glass dome on gilded base, circa 1880, adorned with flying birds, full whistler, swimming swans and duck, water fountain and time and strike timepiece. this is one of three such timepieces imported by Bromley Jewellers of Yass,

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French automaton singing bird mantel clock in glass dome, 19th…
19th Century French Singing Bird Mantel Clock

French automaton singing bird mantel clock in glass dome, 19th century, music box base, four birds with twisted glass water feature and a time and strike movement, rare original and complete, in working order, 27.95 in. high

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A French glass cased automaton mantel clock with handpainted…
French Automaton Mantel Clock with Handpainted Dome, 19th Century

A French glass cased automaton mantel clock with handpainted dome, late 19th century, village scene with figures, clock tower and windmill, music box with timepiece, 20.08 in. high

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French automaton mantel clock, gilt bronze on marquetry…
Gilt Bronze French Automaton Mantel Clock with Rocking Tallship

French automaton mantel clock, gilt bronze on marquetry rosewood base with automaton rocking tallship in front of a handpainted port scene most likely Marseilles, under an impressive glass dome, early 19th century, 21.65 in. high

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Chinese export ware silver pocket watch featuring hand painted…
Chinese Silver Pocket Watch with Moving Windmill and Carp

Chinese export ware silver pocket watch featuring hand painted village scene with moving windmill and carp! stamped Pb, automata face, maker Alex Ross & Co. Hong Kong, comes in walnut box. Condition: good, movement in working order, small dent to back diam

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A gold open-faced Jacquemart automaton quarter repeating pocket…
Jacquemart Automaton Pocket Watch, 1810

A gold open-faced Jacquemart automaton quarter repeating pocket watch Continental circa 1810, gilt full plate movement, verge fusee escapement, pierced and engraved balance cock, two hammers striking on two gongs, skeletonised dial, engraved automaton Jacq

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An English musical automata bracket clock, circa 1780, the…
Musical Automata Bracket Clock, 1780

An English musical automata bracket clock, circa 1780, the ebonised case, with an inverted bell top, inset with four brass caryatids, and five acorn finials, engraved back plate, striking on eight bells, with fusee movement and pull repeat. Brass pierced s

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A German Black Forest automaton clock, 'The Drinker', 19th…
"The Drinker" Black Forest Automaton Clock

A German Black Forest automaton clock, 'The Drinker', 19th century, striking clock with miniature oval wine barrel for case. Autometer figure sitting on top of barrel, drinking during the strike, 18.50 in. high, 11.81 in. wide, 8.27 in. deep

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A Black Forest singing bird bracket clock, 19th century, wood…
19th Century Black Forest Singing Bird Bracket Clock

A Black Forest singing bird bracket clock, 19th century, wood case with silvered fretted panels to base, dial surround and dial centre, all with gilded backing plates. Singing bird is mounted on top of case in a wooden arch. Three train, brass plate moveme

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A Swiss Arnex Reuge musical automaton pocket and table watch…
Swiss Reuge Musical Automaton Pocket Watch with Enamel Dial

A Swiss Arnex Reuge musical automaton pocket and table watch Mechanical automaton enamel romantic scene dial gold plated case and chain diameter 2.20 in. with box and manufactures papers

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Early 19th century 18ct gold plated open faced key wind pocket…
18ct Gold Plated Jaquemart Pocket Watch with Automata

Early 19th century 18ct gold plated open faced key wind pocket watch quarter repeater and fusee movements with ornate decorative figured Jaquemart automata to the dial frame

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A fine George III ormolu-mounted tortoiseshell veneered…
George III Musical Automaton Table Clock by Markwick Markham

A fine George III ormolu-mounted tortoiseshell veneered striking musical automaton table clock, made for the ottoman Market by Markwick Markham, London, triple fusee movement, verge escapement with a select lever at three on the side of the dial, each side

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George II oak longcase clock, (grandfather clock) by John…
George II Oak Longcase Clock with Harlequin Automata

George II oak longcase clock, (grandfather clock) by John Johnson, with rare dancing harlequin automata in break arch and date aperture, unrestored condition, 87.40 in. high approx

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Antique automaton singing bird, decorated with coloured enamels…
Enamelled Singing Bird Automaton with Gemstones and Clock

Antique automaton singing bird, decorated with coloured enamels and set with sapphires, rubies and seed pearls. The central moving bird in a cage with carved seated figures of women and young child on either side and bochee above of nesting birds, fruit an

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A rare early 19th century gold Swiss/French automata…
Swiss/French Automata Repeat/Strike Pocket Watch, 19th Century

A rare early 19th century gold Swiss/French automata Repeat/Strike pocket watch, cobalt blue chapter ring with relief silver and gold figures that strike the hours and quarter on demand. Verge movement pierced cockplate with end stone. Diameter 2.13 in.

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A fine Regency musical automata clock by James Smith, circa…
Regency Musical Automata Clock by James Smith, c. 1820

A fine Regency musical automata clock by James Smith, circa 1820. In a mahogany case with an eight day fuse movement and verge escapement, hour strike and twelve bells; the arched brass dial with subsidiary dials for tune sections and strike silent, the au

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