Friday, March 17, 2017
Friday Video: A Golden Music Box with a Rope Dancer, c1785
Friday, March 17, 2017
Susan reporting,
Loretta and I both have a well-documented (here, here, and here) weakness for automatons and other mechanical trinkets for the very wealthy in the 18thc. Automatons were often made as a collaboration between jewelers and watchmakers, and it's difficult to say whether this luxurious little beauty is a music-box masquerading as jewelry, or an ornament that makes music. Imagine a gentleman taking this from the deep pockets of his coat to entertain his friends, or a lady keeping it among the other amusements on her bedside table, ready to wind up and play for a special child.
Automated music-box, gold, Geneva, c1785. Victoria & Albert Museum.
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Isabella Bradford/Susan Holloway Scott
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Labels: automaton, Casual Friday, Friday videos, interesting objects, Susan Holloway Scott
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Labels: automaton, Casual Friday, Friday videos, interesting objects, Susan Holloway Scott
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3 comments:
I love your Friday videos. This was worth waiting a week.
Beautiful musical box. Wish I could have that.
Fascinating, I was entranced
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