Is she actually hitting the keys, or is the sound produced in the inside of the toy?

The automaton is actually playing the instrument! Which I frankly, find amazing.

According to Dr. Minsoo Kang, this amazing machine was created by Peter Kintzing and David Roentgen in 1784. You can learn more on the Harvard University blog here: http://harvardpress.typepad.com/hup_publicity/2011/02/marie-antoinette-sublime-dreams-living-machines.html

What exactly is an automaton?

An automaton is a self-operating machine, pretty much the precursor to robots.

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Course: The Metropolitan Museum of Art > Unit 1

Lesson 14: Extravagant Inventions

Demonstration of David Roentgen's Automaton of Queen Marie Antoinette, The Dulcimer Player

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Watch this surprising video of an automaton play the dulcimer.

David Roentgen (1743–1807) took his royal patron by surprise when he delivered this beautiful automaton to King Louis XVI for his queen, Marie Antoinette, in 1784. The cabinetry for this piece is very much a neoclassical masterwork, and the mechanism behind it is truly extraordinary: the figure strikes the strings in perfect rhythm with two small metal hammers held in her hands, which move with great precision.

. Created by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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Matthias Schmitz
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Matthias Schmitz's post “That's amazing, but how d...”
That's amazing, but how does it work?
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(8 votes)
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- Helen
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Helen's post “i'm pretty sure you wind ...”
  i'm pretty sure you wind it up and then it turns the gears
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  (1 vote)
Миленa
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Миленa's post “Is she actually hitting t...”
Is she actually hitting the keys, or is the sound produced in the inside of the toy?
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(4 votes)
Answer
- Click here
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Click here's post “The automaton is actually...”
  The automaton is actually playing the instrument! Which I frankly, find amazing.
  Comment on Click here's post “The automaton is actually...”
  (4 votes)
maceden
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to maceden's post “What exactly is an automa...”
What exactly is an automaton?
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(2 votes)
Answer
- trek
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to trek's post “An automaton is a self-op...”
  An automaton is a self-operating machine, pretty much the precursor to robots.
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  (5 votes)
Billy Blaze
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Billy Blaze's post “Who made this?”
Who made this?
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(3 votes)
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- Steven Zucker
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Steven Zucker's post “According to Dr. Minsoo K...”
  According to Dr. Minsoo Kang, this amazing machine was created by Peter Kintzing and David Roentgen in 1784. You can learn more on the Harvard University blog here: http://harvardpress.typepad.com/hup_publicity/2011/02/marie-antoinette-sublime-dreams-living-machines.html
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  (3 votes)
keishacan
Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to keishacan's post “Cool instrument though. I...”
Cool instrument though. I searched and it seems that one almost of this size is actually about $440.00
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(1 vote)
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yin alina
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to yin alina's post “I just can not open it ,w...”
I just can not open it ,why?
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Sarah Warner
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Sarah Warner's post “Is this inventor a relati...”
Is this inventor a relative of the guy who discovered X-rays?
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- Chuyao Wang
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Chuyao Wang's post “Find this on Wikipedia: W...”
  Find this on Wikipedia:
  Wilhelm Röntgen (1845–1923), German physicist, discoverer of X-rays
  Abraham Roentgen (1711–1793), German cabinetmaker
  David Roentgen (1743–1807), German cabinetmaker, son of Abraham Roentgen
  Heinrich Röntgen (1787–1813), German explorer
  Julius Röntgen (1855–1932), German-Dutch composer of classical music
  Kevin Roentgen, musician, singer with American rock band Orson
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  (1 vote)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Course: The Metropolitan Museum of Art > Unit 1

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