Making Marvels-Musical Automaton Clock with Spinet and Organ

Each part of this marvel, a combination of clock, musical instrument, and automaton, would have added to its expense. Its production required the cooperation of several artisans. The clock's case is marked “eben,” which the cabinetmaker's guild used to indicate real ebony (and not a cheaper substitute), and its corners are embellished with fine silver caryatids (female supporting ornaments). Clocks like this one-the earliest surviving example of its type-made it possible to enjoy recorded music at home.
A multisensory entertainment for the noble classes, this piece has a clockwork mechanism that plays three jaunty original compositions (one of which can be heard in this video) on a spinet and an organ. It also sets in motion a cast of commedia dell'arte figures that dance in a circle or spin and jump on the hour. The mirrored panels behind them are positioned to create the illusion of a large ballroom; the trick is simple yet effective.
Featured Artwork:
Musical Automaton Clock with Spinet and Organ, ca. 1625. Veit Langenbucher (1587-1631) and Samuel Bidermann and Son (1540-1622). German, Augsburg. Silver, brass, iron, gilding, ebony, hardwood, parchment, leather, textile, paint. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Clara Mertens Bequest, in memory of André Mertens, 2002 (2002.323a-f)
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© The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2019

Пікірлер: 135

  • @cactus-wren
    @cactus-wren3 жыл бұрын

    Wow! Still works after 397 years, very nice work!

  • @transmeeshax6872

    @transmeeshax6872

    3 жыл бұрын

    Holy cow, you’re right. I would have guessed it to be mid to late 1700’s... That thing is old.

  • @Weesel71

    @Weesel71

    3 жыл бұрын

    Not a Windows (r) product.

  • @astronomiaescrituras9089

    @astronomiaescrituras9089

    12 күн бұрын

    so this clock was made in 1627?

  • @misterakt
    @misterakt4 жыл бұрын

    the wind sounds have a very eerie mood to them...the tone is almost akin to like a mellotron in the fragility of the sounds structure...wonderful

  • @metmuseum

    @metmuseum

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, Alexander!

  • @cm9439
    @cm94393 жыл бұрын

    This is a stunning, gorgeous creation! Such genius and labor went into it. Stop complaining about a 400-year-old automaton's sound and be awed by it, instead. Thank you for taking such loving care of a marvelous, fragile piece of history.

  • @juliashenandoah3965
    @juliashenandoah39654 жыл бұрын

    Are these androids equipped with an analogue clockwork-transistor morale chip? Otherwise they might go crazy some day.

  • @amandajstar
    @amandajstar3 жыл бұрын

    Fabulous! I love ingenuity and beauty together. This must have been an even more wondrous thing when it was new, and people still had the ears to hear and eyes to see.

  • @jashbrown8079
    @jashbrown80793 жыл бұрын

    I hope I get to hear it's tune when it's still on it's prime🥺

  • @annecohen8927
    @annecohen89273 жыл бұрын

    Incredible, these mechanical figures look like they were actually waltzing to the music which sounds very unique. I love it!!

  • @transmeeshax6872
    @transmeeshax68723 жыл бұрын

    How wonderful... ☺️ I imagine that it probably sounded beautiful about 2-3 hundred years ago

  • @blipblip88
    @blipblip883 жыл бұрын

    One of the most charming things I seen in a bit. Thanks

  • @michaelheintz8853
    @michaelheintz88533 жыл бұрын

    This is beyond cool.

  • @metmuseum

    @metmuseum

    3 жыл бұрын

    We think so too! Many thanks.

  • @RockStarOscarStern634
    @RockStarOscarStern6342 жыл бұрын

    So the Keys are Connected to Valves that Open Tone Holes to let air go to the Pipes making the Air Column Vibrate, & they're also connected to Picks that strum the Strings. Essentially it's an Automatic Claviorganum.

  • @janelle144
    @janelle1443 жыл бұрын

    It's just awesome to hear it play after all these years. Why refurbish it when you can hear it's still working, it's a miracle. Wonder how much longer it has? Refurbish it but I like hearing it run after so many years. Wow

  • @matthewcole4753

    @matthewcole4753

    11 ай бұрын

    I'd rather they keep this operational but unrefurbished, while building a modern replica so it may travel or give a clearer idea of its operation without interfering with something not yet broken.

  • @asoupofprunes3895
    @asoupofprunes38953 жыл бұрын

    Parent: "Please just try to be happy" Me: 0:10

  • @ascendingdeity9303
    @ascendingdeity93033 жыл бұрын

    oh my goodness it’s so precious 😳 💕

  • @amp-le4699
    @amp-le46993 жыл бұрын

    I am so in love with these things

  • @U_N_Owen
    @U_N_Owen3 жыл бұрын

    That's the first and only priceless antique to survive an encounter with Inspector Clouseau.

  • @gabbiesdreamworld12
    @gabbiesdreamworld12 Жыл бұрын

    What an amazing clock! With some dolls with their musical instruments! It has a Spinet and an Organ too!

  • @Meowewoi
    @Meowewoi3 жыл бұрын

    such eerie music

  • @philthycat1408
    @philthycat14083 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant. Sure that's the 1st track from, NOW 1625

  • @lmarti204
    @lmarti2043 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful!

  • @shaneyaw4542
    @shaneyaw45423 жыл бұрын

    This is the evidence of mastery at work.

  • @cynthiablandford6213
    @cynthiablandford62133 жыл бұрын

    Eerily beautiful!

  • @ericdavids9667
    @ericdavids96673 жыл бұрын

    Such amazing craftsmanship 👍

  • @chocotejon
    @chocotejon3 жыл бұрын

    Fascinating

  • @mablestark6501
    @mablestark65017 ай бұрын

    This is amazing

  • @ianelley
    @ianelley3 жыл бұрын

    That reminds me of the mice on the " marvelous mouse organ" from "Bagpuss" !! Maybe thats where the idea came from ?

  • @judyvispi
    @judyvispi3 жыл бұрын

    Love it!

  • @eh_.bp13
    @eh_.bp1311 ай бұрын

    I'm touched...

  • @carolinabarrientos1618
    @carolinabarrientos16183 жыл бұрын

    Very impressive!

  • @56bluegold
    @56bluegold3 жыл бұрын

    Amazing !!!

  • @Dive-Bar-Casanova
    @Dive-Bar-Casanova3 жыл бұрын

    Love it. Thumbs up and Thanks to the burglar that wound and started it.

  • @nordiskkatt
    @nordiskkatt3 жыл бұрын

    It's very elegant - but is there a preservation/conservation reason why it can't be tuned?

  • @charlietrone4761
    @charlietrone47614 жыл бұрын

    Wow that's really an old thing.

  • @deannastevens1217
    @deannastevens12173 жыл бұрын

    WOW!! AMAZING!!!

  • @faisalmir9300
    @faisalmir93003 жыл бұрын

    A masterpiece...

  • @ObjectHistory
    @ObjectHistory3 жыл бұрын

    That is so beautiful

  • @thomaszaccone3960
    @thomaszaccone39603 жыл бұрын

    THAT IS AWESOME! Who made it? Where and when??

  • @litoboy5
    @litoboy53 жыл бұрын

    AMAZING

  • @acastrohowell
    @acastrohowell3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome

  • @yk-et3un
    @yk-et3un3 жыл бұрын

    Imagine making something that hundreds of years later people would still marvel at.

  • @randomconsumer4494
    @randomconsumer44943 жыл бұрын

    YAAAAAAY!!! AGAIN AGAIN!!!

  • @geoffdundee
    @geoffdundee3 жыл бұрын

    WOW amazing and very special

  • @Drenov
    @Drenov3 жыл бұрын

    This needs restoration

  • @jeffzamos9667
    @jeffzamos96673 жыл бұрын

    The music is horrendous but truely a masterwork of clockmaking

  • @perisssss
    @perisssss4 жыл бұрын

    nice melody

  • @metmuseum

    @metmuseum

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @jefferee2002
    @jefferee20023 жыл бұрын

    Reminds me of my Mr. Machine when I was a kid

  • @deirdremorris9234
    @deirdremorris92343 жыл бұрын

    Wow!!

  • @litoboy5
    @litoboy59 ай бұрын

    Wow ❤

  • @esthertan694
    @esthertan6943 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely spooky

  • @salvatore3915
    @salvatore39153 жыл бұрын

    If i hear this at night , i would totally freak out

  • @aristhelynranalan1702
    @aristhelynranalan17023 жыл бұрын

    my childhood fascination.wow

  • @SamsungUser69
    @SamsungUser692 жыл бұрын

    Sounds like kitten meowing lol

  • @weerobot
    @weerobot3 жыл бұрын

    Cruella Deville Wind's Her Clock.....

  • @haydenamaro

    @haydenamaro

    3 жыл бұрын

    Definitely some odd fet vibes afoot with the windery

  • @8nansky528
    @8nansky5283 жыл бұрын

    I ADORE READING

  • @jparr17
    @jparr17 Жыл бұрын

    imagine what kind of household this must have been in when it was first made.....

  • @8nansky528
    @8nansky5283 жыл бұрын

    I ADORE READING I ADORE WHITE COLOUR ONLY I ADORE PURENESS ONLY

  • @leftrightfall
    @leftrightfall3 жыл бұрын

    let the nightmares begin.

  • @memoir5358
    @memoir53583 жыл бұрын

    straight otta horror movies

  • @obrien6320
    @obrien6320 Жыл бұрын

    Good god tune that thing...

  • @juntapuchos
    @juntapuchos3 жыл бұрын

    Is it available on ITunes?

  • @harpsichordkid
    @harpsichordkid3 жыл бұрын

    Ok....let’s show some respect to the original makers and tune and restore this thing before debuting it. You think a King would have accepted it in this condition? Heads would be rolling.

  • @konaIII

    @konaIII

    3 жыл бұрын

    Would you polish a Tiffany lamp? PS. don't. This thing is in the MET. Also, the guy who wound it up wore a glove. Why bother if you are going to "restore" it anyway?

  • @ThePapino134

    @ThePapino134

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@konaIII yeah to hear the original sound you'd better make a recreation

  • @Joseph-fd8bp
    @Joseph-fd8bp3 жыл бұрын

    wowwww

  • @hakimmerchant6600
    @hakimmerchant66003 жыл бұрын

    If you can create something with dolphin jumping in ocean by oil based dyes and beautiful oceans

  • @scerges
    @scerges3 жыл бұрын

    How in the world they managed to produce such a piece...and many other?

  • @tjtreinen7381
    @tjtreinen73813 жыл бұрын

    wow

  • @anastasias.7186
    @anastasias.71862 жыл бұрын

    😮😮😮

  • @64bit-
    @64bit-3 жыл бұрын

    suddenly my seiko automatic movement doesn't seem so impressive anymore

  • @fratiorgan
    @fratiorgan3 жыл бұрын

    It's a shame such a marvellous piece is allowed to sound so ghastly!

  • @capmidnite

    @capmidnite

    3 жыл бұрын

    Why is it ghastly? Ever heard an ensemble from that era?

  • @somasubstance
    @somasubstance3 жыл бұрын

    Clang!

  • @johnfitzgerald2339
    @johnfitzgerald23393 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, but does the _clock_ work?

  • 3 жыл бұрын

    I have a similar model at home.

  • @robinlagelius
    @robinlagelius3 жыл бұрын

    Everything about this, including the weird gloves, was cursed lol

  • @MarciaPereira-yu3hp
    @MarciaPereira-yu3hp3 жыл бұрын

    😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🇧🇷

  • @invasorispaziali3737
    @invasorispaziali3737 Жыл бұрын

    Does the Song has a name?

  • @pigeonman1134
    @pigeonman11343 жыл бұрын

    What's this song called?

  • @pigeonman1134

    @pigeonman1134

    3 жыл бұрын

    Not a joke i am genuinely fascinated by this organ music playing

  • @kencur9690
    @kencur96903 жыл бұрын

    Five bucks, my final offer, not a penny more.

  • @jackwoodhouse9041
    @jackwoodhouse90413 жыл бұрын

    I have the same key!

  • @TheStalitha
    @TheStalitha3 жыл бұрын

    Be still for there is strange music

  • @Frogs_and_cats
    @Frogs_and_cats3 ай бұрын

    Clock: 0:10 bababebobababeboobababeboobababeboo

  • @lanapoort3317
    @lanapoort33173 жыл бұрын

    The rhythm of this is 13/66

  • @Sunt-bine
    @Sunt-bine3 жыл бұрын

    Beautifully creepy.

  • @AlexandreFijolek
    @AlexandreFijolek3 жыл бұрын

    Hi, did you pay your musicians yet? Asking for a friend

  • @matiasylasmanualidades9527
    @matiasylasmanualidades95273 жыл бұрын

    Megusta

  • @yippedoodah
    @yippedoodah3 жыл бұрын

    Me and the gang after we get vaccinated

  • @watanglipuhadjar2654
    @watanglipuhadjar26543 жыл бұрын

    is there still anyone who can make it today ?

  • @baudobill547
    @baudobill5474 жыл бұрын

    What a sad music :/

  • @michaelleguen
    @michaelleguen5 ай бұрын

    😅

  • @ga1actic_muffin
    @ga1actic_muffin3 жыл бұрын

    what music was like back in 1625...

  • @MrUranium238
    @MrUranium2383 жыл бұрын

    creepy

  • @luceromendozaavalos6698

    @luceromendozaavalos6698

    3 жыл бұрын

    Totally

  • @mcwooley
    @mcwooley3 жыл бұрын

    Wow, music for the disabled and it was hardly even the Baroqué era

  • @xackaryphobe
    @xackaryphobe3 жыл бұрын

    Gumball recorders

  • @andreweden9405

    @andreweden9405

    3 жыл бұрын

    "Requarters"🤣.25¢

  • @permijitdunkley5149
    @permijitdunkley51493 жыл бұрын

    rap music for this year Sumer-time from Rihanna and Eminem (Mr Marshall Mathers) Boots Pharmacy work for make-up beauty for the High Street TIME so..@#.

  • @karenspeciale3474
    @karenspeciale34742 жыл бұрын

    ???????????????????????????????

  • @matthewanstis1964
    @matthewanstis19643 жыл бұрын

    Nightmare fodder

  • @jcrules2413
    @jcrules24133 жыл бұрын

    Creepiest thing I've seen today.

  • @troubledseed
    @troubledseed3 жыл бұрын

    I am uncomfortable.

  • @Frogs_and_cats
    @Frogs_and_cats3 ай бұрын

    Wth is a spiinet

  • @mclovin8739
    @mclovin87393 жыл бұрын

    I'll give you 50 quid for it

  • @evanosburn718
    @evanosburn7183 жыл бұрын

    If it played better music I may be able to appreciate more

  • @justimagine2403
    @justimagine24033 жыл бұрын

    Hideous. I want my money back!