Automata are moving figures, tableaux or sculptures powered by electricity, clockwork, water, wind, gravity or hand turned.
For centuries they have delighted people of all ages with their movement and humour. Since the 1980s the town of Falmouth in Cornwall, UK has become a focal point for automata makers and collectors.
2-300BC
The first recorded automata were made in Egypt
4-500AD
Byzantine water clocks incorporate automata
7th c.
Islamic artisans develop ever more elaborate water clocks
14th c.
European ‘clockwork’ includes animated characters striking the chimes
15-16th c.
Renaissance gardens come to life with hydraulic automata
17th c.
Life-like mechanical creatures and toys become a craze with wealthy Europeans
18th c.
Napoleonic prisoners of war in British captivity produce fine bone automata
1850
Golden age of Victorian mechanical toy makers particularly in France and Germany
1915-1945
Clockwork and mechanical automata and toys in decline
1945-70
Alexander Calder and Jean Tinguely explore kinetic and mechanical objects and Sam Smith begins to make painted wooden toys
1968
Rodney Peppé has his first children’s book published, meets Sam Smith and is inspired
1979
Sue Jackson opens Cabaret in Falmouth and recruits local makers Peter Markey, Paul Spooner and toy maker Ron Fuller.
1984
Cabaret Mechanical Theatre moves to Covent Garden, London
1996
Peter Markey gives one of his ‘wave machines’ to Falmouth Art Gallery 1998 All Hands on Deck! Automata on a maritime theme exhibition at Falmouth Art Gallery
2018
Falmouth Art Gallery collection now numbers almost 60 automata and includes work by Patrick Bond, Anthony Crosby, Susan Evans, Robert Hackney, Fi Henshall, Robert Jones, Peter Markey, Justin Mitchell, Keith Newstead, Matt Smith, Paul Spooner, Angela and Laurence St Ledger and Carlos Zapata. Many of these artists live and work in or near Falmouth.