Details
Image(s)
TitleMother Monkey with Baby Monkey, Musical Automaton
Creator Jean Marie Phalibois
PlaceParis (France)
Year ca. 1880
Object number0914
Object nameautomaton with playing comb, automaton with cylinder
DescriptionWhen the mechanism is activated and the melody sounds, the mother monkey looks at her baby, opens her mouth and blinks her eyes.
Accompanying textsThe automaton can play two tunes, which are listed on the base on the figure: 'La Camargo ha les soldats' by Charles Lecocq, and 'Eva Polka', by an unknown composer.
Although the automaton is not signed, there are arguments for attribution to Jean-Marie Phalibois based on several technical characteristics. The artistic tradition of depicting apes dressed as humans or in characteristically "human" scenarios is ancient. In painting, it is often called by the French name "singerie".
Although the automaton is not signed, there are arguments for attribution to Jean-Marie Phalibois based on several technical characteristics. The artistic tradition of depicting apes dressed as humans or in characteristically "human" scenarios is ancient. In painting, it is often called by the French name "singerie".
Dimensions
geheel height: 65 cm
geheel width: 50 cm
geheel depth: 26 cm
cilinder length: 6.18 cm
cilinder diameter: 0.16 cm
geheel width: 50 cm
geheel depth: 26 cm
cilinder length: 6.18 cm
cilinder diameter: 0.16 cm