- Hardcover: 360 pages
- Publisher: Robert Hale Ltd; New edition edition (30 Jun 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0709074034
- ISBN-13: 978-0709074038
- Product Dimensions: 31.7 x 25 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,290,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Now reissued, having been unobtainable for many years, this spectacular book, the first to be devoted entirely to the period of the automaton's apogee, is an essential addition to the library of the collector, the specialist, and all who are interested in automata. An introductory chapter depicts the Paris in which automaton-makers lived and worked, its atmosphere, preoccupations and amusements. There follow the little-known histories of the seven leading makers, from their foundation in the mid-century to the decline of production after the First World War. This information is the result of the author's pioneering researches into commercial archives, the contemporary press, and personal documents of automaton-makers' descendants. Here for the first time names, dates and chronologies are accurately established to give a reference framework of inestimable value. In the automaton - happy product of the exuberant creativity of the artist and the exquisite craftsmanship of the artisan - sculpture, painting, music, costume and mechanics all play a part. The automata of nineteenth-century France embody their age in a wonderfully immediate fashion. In their gestures and attitudes the nineteenth century comes almost literally alive: in homely figures such as the rosy-cheeked nanny walking the baby, or the pretty seamstress at pains over her work; in ingenious larger-than-life creations - lustily acrobatic clowns, mystifying conjurors, melancholy Pierrots, Mephistopheles himself; and still other pieces express the era of great international exhibitions and colonial conquests, and its fascination with the exotic. Over 150 automata are illustrated in colour photographs; and a substantial selection of pages from catalogues of the period in facsimile show many further pieces in monochrome.
About the Author
Christian Bailly, a member of the Union Francaise des Experts, is based in Paris and has collected and restored automata for over thirty years.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is simply a "must have" for any collector, dealer or enthusiast of dolls, automaton, mechanics. Stunning illustrations and descriptions throughout.
Contents Include:
The Automata Industry of Paris
The Master Automaton-Makers
Theroude
Bontems
Vichy
Roullet & Decamps
Phalibois
Lambert
Renou
Inside the Magic
Restoration
Functions and Mechanisms
Musical Movements
Makers' Catalogues in Facsimile
Vichy / Triboulet
Roullet & Decamps
Lambert
Contents Include:
The Automata Industry of Paris
The Master Automaton-Makers
Theroude
Bontems
Vichy
Roullet & Decamps
Phalibois
Lambert
Renou
Inside the Magic
Restoration
Functions and Mechanisms
Musical Movements
Makers' Catalogues in Facsimile
Vichy / Triboulet
Roullet & Decamps
Lambert
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Back in print! THE seminal work on automata!
17 Dec 2004
Format:Hardcover
If you have a true passion for Victorian automata, this is a must-have book... in fact, this may be the only book you need. Bailly covers all the major manufacturers of the era, including Vichy, Roullet, Decamps, Phalibois, and more in this hefty oversize tome. Each chapter details everything about the master automaton makers, including the company history and ephemera, diagrams of the inner workings and mechanisms, what the original keys look like for that company, dates of manufacture for various models, and what set the companies apart from each other.
Perhaps even more fascinating is section 3, "Inside the Magic", which offers photographs of more internal mechanisms, explains how they work complete with movement diagrams, shows how an automaton is properly restored, provides information about musical movements, and much more.
Copiously illustrated throughout with loads of fantastic full color images of period automata, most of which are in beautiful original condition or superbly restored. There are also perhaps hundreds of black & white photos and illustrations, including copies of period catalog pages from three of the larger companies (Vichy, Roullet & Decamps, and Lambert).
Prior to its re-release, the original printing of this book was approaching the $1000 mark on the used market, and if you take a look inside you'll understand why. Nothing else like it has ever been produced or likely ever will -- this glorious celebration of the golden age of automata will have you spellbound for many years to come. Leave it on your coffee table and watch your guests become entranced!
Perhaps even more fascinating is section 3, "Inside the Magic", which offers photographs of more internal mechanisms, explains how they work complete with movement diagrams, shows how an automaton is properly restored, provides information about musical movements, and much more.
Copiously illustrated throughout with loads of fantastic full color images of period automata, most of which are in beautiful original condition or superbly restored. There are also perhaps hundreds of black & white photos and illustrations, including copies of period catalog pages from three of the larger companies (Vichy, Roullet & Decamps, and Lambert).
Prior to its re-release, the original printing of this book was approaching the $1000 mark on the used market, and if you take a look inside you'll understand why. Nothing else like it has ever been produced or likely ever will -- this glorious celebration of the golden age of automata will have you spellbound for many years to come. Leave it on your coffee table and watch your guests become entranced!
New edition printed on Gold Leaf?
18 April 2012
Format:Hardcover
Back in print, but for who I wonder: Every listing I see for this book is grand or more, I can't believe there could possibly be any content worth 1800 dollars.
I would like to review this book, but who the hell can afford 1800$ for one book? ahh I see, the new edition was printed on gold leaf...
I gave it one star to protest the ridicuosly high price.
I would like to review this book, but who the hell can afford 1800$ for one book? ahh I see, the new edition was printed on gold leaf...
I gave it one star to protest the ridicuosly high price.
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