Automata: The Golden Age 1848-1914

by Christian Bailly

The automaton is the playful collaboration of the artist and the artisan, with sculpture, painting, music, costume, and mechanics all playing a part in its creation. In The Golden Age, Christian Bailly opens with a depiction of mid-19th-century Paris, where French automaton-makers lived and worked. There follow the little-known histories of the seven leading makers, from their establishment mid-century to the decline of production after the First World War. Here, for the first time, names, dates, and chronologies are accurately established to present a reference of inestimable value. In addition, more than 150 automata are photographed in color, with many more depicted in facsimile pages from vintage catalogs.

360 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am distantly related to the figure depicted on page 117.