Everything I draw ends up wearing a bow-tie

beepsy:

psychodynamic:

katimus-prime:

a-l-ancien-regime:

The Queen’s Android

Marie-Antoinette’s dulcimer player, forerunner of the robot.

Date: 1784, Paris, musée des Arts et Métiers

This famous android was a collaborative effort by two Germans. Clockmaker Peter Kintzing created the mechanism and joiner David Roentgen crafted the cabinet; the dress dates from the 19th century. Automatons were in circulation and aroused much curiosity. Roentgen probably sent the tympanum to the French court and Marie-Antoinette bought it in 1784. The queen, aware of its perfection and scientific interest, had it deposited in the Academy of Sciences cabinet in 1785. The tympanum is a musical instrument that plays eight tunes when the female android strikes the 46 strings with two little hammers. Tradition has it that she is a depiction of Marie-Antoinette.

DUDE.

Aw man, is that real? That’s amazing. *u*

I love automatons

(via a-startled-fart-deactivated2013)