This documentary features character automata, musicians, comic figures and fascinating surprise automata. Several of these exceptional pieces were once part of the renowned Dr. Max Tassel Collection, which was sold at auction by Kohn in 2016.
Antique Automata Featured in the Documentary
- Aubade à la lune — Gustave Vichy: Pierrot plays his mandolin beneath an animated moon that blinks its eyes and opens its mouth.
- Musical Clown with a Broom — Léopold Lambert: A clown turns his broom into a double bass and playfully pretends to play it.
- Clown with an Umbrella — Gustave Vichy: An elaborate automaton performs with various accessories while moving its head, eyes, and arms.
- Trumpet-Playing Clown Around a Barrel — Roullet-Decamps: A clown plays his trumpet while making a complete circuit around a barrel.
- The Cook — Léopold Lambert: A mischievous cat tries to take advantage of the cook’s momentary distraction.
- Smoking Gentleman — Roullet-Decamps: An elegantly dressed gentleman raises a cigarette holder to his mouth, producing a realistic smoking effect.
- Harp Player — Gustave Vichy: A musician moves both hands independently across the strings of his harp.
- Hercules with Weights — Roullet-Decamps: A mechanical strongman bends down, grasps a weight, and lifts it with remarkably lifelike movement.
- Young Woman with a Mandolin — Gustave Vichy: A graceful musician moves her head and hand in time with the music.
- The Artist Painter — Michel Bertrand, after Vichy: An artist draws a picture before humorously revealing the portrait he has created.
- The Reservists’ Infirmary — circa 1910: A large, humorous military scene features several animated mechanical figures.
- Little Tich — Roullet-Decamps: Inspired by the British music-hall performer, this figure executes extraordinary leaning movements while wearing enormous shoes.
- Drummer — Roullet-Decamps: A drummer performs rolls with both arms while moving his head and eyelids.
- Walking Peacock — Roullet-Decamps: A peacock walks forward, turns its head, and stops to spread its magnificent tail.
- Peasant and Piglet — Gustave Vichy: A comic scene shows a peasant playing with a small piglet seated on his lap.
- Pierrot Writing — after Gustave Vichy: Pierrot writes with a quill, gradually falls asleep as his lamp goes out, then awakens and resumes his work.
- Musical Polichinelle — Léopold Lambert: A performer plays several instruments before an unexpected mechanical surprise emerges from his belly.
- Fruit Seller / Tray Automaton — Gustave Vichy: Fruit on a tray conceals a succession of miniature animated scenes.
The Golden Age of French Automata
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the great French automaton makers Vichy, Léopold Lambert and Roullet-Decamps achieved an extraordinary level of mechanical sophistication.
Movements of the eyes, face, hands and body were combined with music and elaborate costumes to create miniature theatrical performances. Some automata could smoke, write, paint, play musical instruments, perform acrobatics or reveal hidden mechanical surprises.
These creations are far more than mechanical curiosities. They combine clockwork engineering, sculpture, music, costume design and theatrical staging, making them remarkable witnesses to the artistry and technical skill of France’s great automaton makers.
The collection assembled by Dr. Max Tassel included many exceptional examples of this mechanical art and remains an important reference for collectors and enthusiasts of antique automata.
