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May 21 2012

a-l-ancien-regime: The Queen’s Android Marie-Antoinette’s dulcimer player, forerunner of the robot. Date: 1784, Paris, musée des Arts et Métiers This famous android was a collaborative effort by two Germans. Clockmaker Peter Kintzing created the mechanism and joiner David Roentgen crafted the cabinet; the dress dates from the 19th century. Automatons were in circulation and aroused much curiosity. Roentgen probably sent the tympanum to the French court and Marie-Antoinette bought it in 1784. The queen, aware of its perfection and scientific interest, had it deposited in the Academy of Sciences cabinet in 1785. The tympanum is a musical instrument that plays eight tunes when the female android strikes the 46 strings with two little hammers. Tradition has it that she is a depiction of Marie-Antoinette.

a-l-ancien-regime:

The Queen’s Android

Marie-Antoinette’s dulcimer player, forerunner of the robot.

Date: 1784, Paris, musée des Arts et Métiers

This famous android was a collaborative effort by two Germans. Clockmaker Peter Kintzing created the mechanism and joiner David Roentgen crafted the cabinet; the dress dates from the 19th century. Automatons were in circulation and aroused much curiosity. Roentgen probably sent the tympanum to the French court and Marie-Antoinette bought it in 1784. The queen, aware of its perfection and scientific interest, had it deposited in the Academy of Sciences cabinet in 1785. The tympanum is a musical instrument that plays eight tunes when the female android strikes the 46 strings with two little hammers. Tradition has it that she is a depiction of Marie-Antoinette.

(via manlymenkissing)

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    So that’s what the Madame de Pompadour did with those leftover clockwork droids.
  18. doctor-sherlock-winchester reblogged this from fallschirmjager and added:
    Actually it was Leonardo Da Vinci who created the forerunner of robots. His automaton suit of armor could sit up,...
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