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

[@gabrielbennett5162]

The genesis of robotics. Just think, this level of precision was accomplished almost 300 years ago without computers, 3D modelling, electronics or even electricity of any sort! Truly amazing.

[@Marian87]

@Jeremiah Bullfrog Aham...most pleople at that time siphoned their time away just by trying to survive. Most people were poor and literate and worked their bodies into the ground. At 40 they were old and worn.

[@JMarieCAlove]

martk fartkerson He was talking about then, how people used their time and their skills to invent something or build something that was amazing for that era. He also said that there wasn’t any of what we have now that would have distracted them in that time, but he wasn’t comparing, he just said in that time there wasn’t any internet, cellphones and so on and I’m pretty sure he knows the amazing inventions we have now and that they didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Maybe you misunderstood his message. But I know what he meant. People made things with their hands and the tools they had then and a lot of time to keep getting it right till it was perfect and it stood the test of time, Facebook wasn’t around but hand written letters were sent to people that probably had drama and gossip in their handwritten letters but it took weeks until someone received a letter. 😉

[@DantesDarkside]

@@detroitfunk313 Yep, the romans had them too more than 2000 years ago, true.

[@tsaszymborska7389]

Tonio Alventos can you show an example?

[@DantesDarkside]

@@tsaszymborska7389 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automaton en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanoid_robot

[@amandaglidewell8451]

Could you imagine being in court, having never seen anything like this before, watching this thing perform?

[@OfficialMyxomatosis]

I did 20 years ago, and was just as disturbed as I am sure they were then. Well, maybe not. But I am honest. You walk into a room, she is by herself lit and you press a button. She comes to life - her eyes move (most of them anyway), and then this happens!! MAD INSANITY! To this day, I am still slack jawed over these "Poupées et Automates". It brought new life to my childhood wind up jewelry box ballerina.

[@magickmiiror2853]

BLACK MAGIC

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

They would have been like: "o.O holy fuck what will be next - a widespread, pervasive automation of labour, leading to the rise of industrialism and over time diminished control of the production system by manual labourers, driving a general societal turn towards higher education, producing a growing gap between the group of educated and/or creative people who are able to keep up with and profit from accelerated growth, technological turnover and general social upheaval - and a larger, alienated group, responding to the fragmentation of historical mono-cultural narratives, traded culture, the cultural and economical effects of technology-driven globalisation and the ensuing increase in conflict and industry-driven migrational patterns - with the reactivation of idealized notions of a romantic, golden past and a slide towards totalitarianism and fascism???!" ... and then of course, the more stoic or pragmatic among them would have been like: "Nah - it'll be fine ..."

[@user-kk3nk5zf9s]

Reminds me of that Hoffmann story where this guy fell in love with a puppet or an automaton, but some guy broke her while dancing!

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

@@user-kk3nk5zf9s Meanwhile the first marriage between a human and a digital character took place in Japan a fews years ago. We can hope the hard drive lasts beyond the stipulated date of expiry. But plot twist question: In what way are humans (or other life forms) NOT automatons?

[@dmsanct]

so crazy to think this is actually one of the most faithful representations on how music actually sounded like back then. Like it's not a recording, but almost

[@womandela7225]

Great comment!!!

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*It is a recording. This is just the elaborate player for that recording.*

[@dryden0100]

@@hulkhatepunybanner It's not a recording because a recording would be identical whereas this automaton playing won't necessarily be identical every time.

[@SirMKeehl]

you’re hearing a recording, huh?

[@bryaneddy5272]

look at how natural the dulcimer strikes look. So much detail and precision went into this.

[@TheTAEclub]

Accuracy, but the automaton is precise, the creator was accurate.

[@hezelgee6012]

What a priceless piece of genious! I have never seen such an exquisite and graceful automaton. It is a great pity that it's inspiration was executed, (hopefully with equal skill).

[@nancyayers6355]

Yes - it's too bad she keeps missing notes!! Dumb blond!!

[@incloudnine5433]

@@nancyayers6355 she's not actually hitting the notes 😅

[@wilczycazksiezyca4796]

@@incloudnine5433 You know it was a joke, right?

[@KJensenStudio]

What a masterpiece this little Queen is. Yes, the mechanics, but also the art. Looking at her head at different angles when she's playing, sometimes she looks like she's smiling quietly. I like to imagine this was a very good likeness of her, and that she loved this brilliant toy.

[@bugayden2287]

It’s amazing but I wouldn’t feel so good seeing that in the corner of my room at night.

[@GuiSmith]

Bugay Den If I was offered it, I would have it in my study or side room because it’s actually really pretty and I’m not that creeped out by it. It’s subtle and avoids the worst of the uncanny valley.

[@AJ-dx6bn]

Until she stands up and finding her bedside

[@ghost-ul1dl]

ну до чего же бездарно... что ж есть к чему стремится!

[@ivanmelkovich7698]

This is the essence of authomatons! They were pieces of engineering and art at the same time

[@AJ-kn7ng]

What I think is the coolest part is that we are privileged to be able to see and hear a perfect time capsule from 1784. It’s no different than if we had an instrumental recording of a piece of music from that time. I mean, WOW...to hear the exact sounds from the same machine that belonged to Marie Antoinette and hear what they all heard. That’s pretty cool, to have a musical connection from so long ago.

[@haitang]

That is a lot of calculations. Amazing back then till now.

[@jezzmaninjapan]

Just a reminder that it was 1 of 8 melodies it could play, so you can multiply those calculations by 8. Edit: I wonder, is there a video with all 8?

[@richardwicks4190]

Not really, the whole point of written music was to reproduce exactly what was written. It's just transcribing time and action for each note.

[@TheRubberduchess]

White people using math...we are a glorious people!

[@apricxtt]

@@TheRubberduchess lol True!

[@ITI-xi5zx]

quaker parrot!!

[@Pr1ckles]

I love this automaton and how the eyes move. I absolutely love automatons, it just shows the ingenuity craftsmen had and still have to this day. I have repaired clocks for well over four years now and I am always taken back by the flawless mechanisms that were made at a time when technology was very young and life was very difficult and I am very thankful for being able to help repair clocks and bring back the happiness in people's lives. Sentiment is everything in this trade and this is a perfect example of this.

[@AmberAmber]

I'm impressed by anyone who repairs clockz when I was barely able to repair old vcrs.

[@sneakyskunk1]

I want to work for you.

[@suedobson6767]

How beautiful. I volunteered in a museum that has a gorgeous swan autometron that always drew breathless crowds. The ingenuity of these craftsmen of the past always leaves me in total awe

[@nottheborg836]

it wasn’t the bowes museum was it?! I love that place, I spend a ridiculous amount of time there!!

[@mary-annelee3950]

Did this appear in everyone’s recommendations randomly as well?

[@louisrelf5903]

Yeah, and I’m glad it did

[@michaelbujaki2462]

Nope, there are several people in North Korea that know nothing about it.

[@whutzat]

Yep

[@WhuDhat]

Yes, just a little later than yourself

[@michaelyeelianglim452]

in two different devices

[@cyndibear5]

What an amazing piece of clockwork machinery. So innovative for it's time.

[@gothmorph]

Wild.... my goodness I'm speechless ... No software required baby....

[@millomweb]

In the day, hardware hadn't gone soft or even firm. But still, interchangeable automatic programmes were available for much larger machines - for music and labour-saving devices. An electronic computer programmer just wouldn't readily recognise the programme.

[@millomweb]

@Fred Smith They are 'of the day' but if you want earlier automation, just look at clocks - 1330

[@millomweb]

@Fred Smith Jacquard's loom didn't but Vaucanson's loom upon which it was based was working in 1745. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_de_Vaucanson It's Vaucanson's birthday today - was this KZbin mystery magic ? kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpulaqKBa9WemKM

[@thomas_larcombe]

Whilst incredibly fascinating to see, it's also quite haunting. Knowing some 300 years ago Marie Antoinette and the rest of the French Court were there watching this creation come to life before their very eyes... and we're doing the exact same thing now

[@CarriesInColor]

I love how now eight years later this is recommended to me by KZbin.

[@vee1267]

This thing is giving me flashbacks to that Doctor Who episode “Girl in the Fireplace”

[@reinhardt5405]

Imagine if it starts playing in the middle of the night by itself.

[@RavenxAlexander1]

It’s beautiful, I won’t doubt that. But imagine your sleeping one night and you wake up to hearing it play.

[@scotthopkins7711]

Exactly what I thought bit creepy

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

Now that would be an episode for The Twilight Zone!!

[@cathedraldarkness]

Omg, right? I’d be done.

[@fwuuton]

I want this as my alarm clock 😭

[@nekochan2493]

CREEPY AS HELL 😹😹😹

[@scotthopkins7711]

Imagine seeing this in the dark with a torch 🔦. It is nice but not creepy at the same time.

[@Fly0High]

There have been these things called candles for a long time now :P

[@username5741]

@@Fly0High I think they mean a flashlight, which is sometimes called a torch.

[@rhyfelwrDuw]

Torch tends to be British English!

[@DGLeo482]

Imagine buying this from an auction and keeping it in your living room, but you wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of this thing playing.

[@incognitoburrito7458]

When a doll can play an instrument better than you

[@QueenMeowTigeress]

Awwwww

[@richardwicks4190]

Any machine can follow a program. There's literally no point to having orchestra's anymore, a computer is more accurate and can produce superior sound to any orchestra today. This has been true for over 20 years now.

[@unsuspiciouscactus9026]

This doll was created specifically for that purpose.

[@spud6213]

@@richardwicks4190 but the experience of listening to an orchestra or being part of one is something special. That's why people still do it and love it

[@ralphrobert521]

@@spud6213 well said, but i gotta agree on how artificially produced orchestra is better

[@jurgenwind]

amazing how they managed to preserve this dating all the way back to the 1700s. and it still works perfectly! unbelievable wow.

[@chrishoo2]

This has confirmed what a young French cimbalom player told me about how these instruments fell out of favour during the French Revolution because they were perceived as aristocratic.

[@Lappmogel]

@cubomania3 This is an automated cimbalom so ofc commoners wouldn't own anything like this. But they could own a simple version

[@blakegriplingph]

Well the complex mechanisms used would set them back a lot of francs, so it's more of a very high-end status symbol than anything.

[@bikiniburger4376]

I can see why.

[@Lucius1958]

@@Lappmogel The nearest thing to this automaton that the general populace would have seen, was the barrel organ, or barrel piano, played by street musicians. These, however, were not "automata", but automated musical instruments, with a much simpler mechanism. Some fancier versions may have included crude puppets, moving in time to the music.

[@Lappmogel]

@@Lucius1958 I mean the instrument only. No dancing puppets, no automation.

[@mysticalegg]

I've been watching automaton videos for an hour and I'm only more impressed each time.

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

Has anyone notice the stark contrast of knowledge among ppl in the era when this automaton was created? You have a group of people living in lavish residence, educated by private tutors, doing all sorts of crazy creations, scientific discoveries and mathematical formulas, while on one side you have peasants who aren't taught a single alphabet, living in poverty and only know how to do simple counting.

[@meptune]

This could lead to a lengthy discussion.

[@veralenora4033]

Yes. Science has reduced this disparity. Only politics and greed stand in the way of a good life for all. Do you know the "future" Isaac Asimove wrote about in his robot stories included the assumption that everyone lived well.

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

@2manynegativewaves It happens in all human-inhabited parts of the world ;)

[@WackE8008]

No wonder the Nobility thought they were miles above the Commoners.

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

@@WackE8008 In fact, when writing systems were created, it was not meant to be taught to commoners. Only the royal family members, landlords and their extended families could learn how to write and read. Even the modern-day alphabet was only taught to commoners during the start of the industrial revolution.

[@OfficialMyxomatosis]

I have seen this and many, many others before at (excuse me for the butcher) the Poupées et Automates in Monaco. 20 years ago. My mind was *blown clear off!* Before I saw her, I was also completely thrown off guard and terrified as one "simple" Automate turned around, dropped its head and reappeared as a clown. I shouted in this silent place "Mon Dieu!", perfectly normal where I live. *NOT* in Monaco. Lovely ladies came running in to see me on the floor in fearful, embarrassed, laughter. Then we all had a laugh and they wanted me to watch it again. I ran away to the next room. This beautiful Maiden was waiting there for me.

[@myristicanz]

Myxomatosis wow what an astonishing reaction❤️

[@blipblip88]

Absolutely exquisite. I'm thoroughly charmed by the level of skill that went into this thing of beauty.

[@21whichiswhich]

I can watch this all day. So fascinating.

[@marynichols438]

Magnificent! Genius. So much skill went into creating this masterpiece.

[@demypeace]

and 9 years later...here we are...watching this video....truly amazing!

[@DrFrankyDolan]

Woooooowww!!!! The truly amazing beauty and skilled artistry of this. Outstanding. I imagine that by the time they finalized all painstaking details, they stood back, watched (and felt) their masterpiece play, and just cried in wonder over what they had brought into life. ....Wow. Beautiful~

[@shelleythompson-brock6412]

So awesome! Glad it was recommended. The features of the porcelain character, the precise movements, and overall tone of the automaton lends to the genius heart of mankind. These wonderful timepieces are evidence of true master craftsmen, with multiple talents.

[@lindamulholland2379]

I have never seen anything like this only in a computer game I have and I was amazed at how the figurine would move its head while it's arms go up and down like it is actually playing the piano , amazing ! Loved every minute ❤️ !

[@nustada]

It is actually playing.

[@dawngilmour6961]

Pure genius. A true work of art. Truly beautiful. Would love to own such beauty xxxx

[@josettegras7599]

Merveilleux !!! Je suis heureuse d'avoir partagé ...merci

[@SuperKasper333]

Absolutely incredible! With simple instruments, creativity, passion and a wonderful talent, a machine of beauty and precision was born. Thank you for sharing this masterpiece.

[@jacksonvanmatre]

I'm obsessed with this video and rewatch it now and then. It's equally intriguing and unnerving; uncanny valley-esque.

[@pennyhines9914]

Extraordinary! And so lovely. What a genius this man possessed! I am in awe. 😲💕👍

[@brianforbes9715]

It's a beautiful wonder!!Absolutely precision how the gears are so precise and to make her genuine to herself!!

[@nigelcarren]

This beautiful machine just played with feeling, which means we have every right to be terrified. BRAVO 🏆

[@MicaRayan]

So delicate and smooth... love it

[@thecerveza]

why is this suddenly in my recommended i mean i'm not complaining just amazed

[@cheriben-iesau4577]

Maybe because 300 years ago a robot looked like a beautiful doll and played music, but it evolved and now, faceless, it trolls your online history and tries to guess your next move.

[@NGMonocrom]

Now that is genuine Art.

[@TheRubberduchess]

Yay, white people! We are glorious!

[@markharrisllb]

I knock one up most Sunday mornings before breakfast…then I have to wake up and get on with my day. I wonder if in two hundred years time people will look at the creatives and craftsmen of this era, with the same reverence we look back on the geniuses of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries? We are lucky that even when these masterpieces were created people appreciated the workmanship and treated things with respect. Today we are a throw away world where many things aren’t expected to last more than a couple of years. So sad!

[@TheGremlinOfChaos]

love how historically accurate she looks and moves as well as how detailed it is

[@eleanorwilliams769]

Beautiful and the tune is pleasing to the ear. I adore automatons.

[@elsainnamorato2231]

That is so beautiful . I love Marie Antoniet.. ❤️

[@littlemissjonesthepiratebe7062]

this is stunning, i love her dress

[@wholeNwon]

Amazing what can be achieved when money is no object. Breguet was crafting the royal watches and clocks.

[@AnneHardingBondiJct]

Was on BBC, May 8, 2017 Lovely to see !

[@jsmcguireIII]

When we first contemplated what is a human and what is a facsimile.

[@Tryin2Bnice45]

Amazing. She loos so real and delicate. Just gorgeous.

[@michaelbressette2599]

What an interesting piece & a wonderful piece of art as well. Mechanically, I've never seen anything like this.

[@InnateNobility]

I love the harpsichord, and the fact that this gorgeous automata is playing a painstakingly recreated harpsichord is a marvel. Well done.

[@Lucius1958]

It's a hammer dulcimer, not a harpsichord.

[@sanmaroo622]

me, an artist: HER HAND POSE IS SO PRETTY

[@davidmann8254]

That was genuinely astonishing. What a very wonderful thing. Thank you for posting

[@nagualdesign]

Stunning.

[@eldritchwulfe]

The sheer genius of thinking up the concept and building it beyond amazing

[@solssun]

The inspiration for the Dr Who episode makes a lot more sense now

[@AmiMichelle]

I would love to see the Making Marvels exhibition that featured the automatons again! That was truly one of the best Met exhibitions I've ever been to.

[@slydoll7877]

Someone should make a full size robot that looks and moves like this.

[@allrock1238]

Disney's animatronic "Shaman of songs" At Pandora world of Avatar moves with astounding fluidity and able to reflect human expression .kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2m7c2SHiqaFnqs

[@ericdravennevermore2566]

why??

[@acdeeiprrt]

I think it is full size, or close to it

[@marnienowicki4077]

Greetings and salutations! What a fantastic piece of art! It's an audio/visual stunner and I can only wonder at how fascinated those who got to view it originally may have been. Thank you for sharing it with us!!! Stay safe out there NYC XOXO from the corn fields of Indiana ,Sincerely Marnie Nowicki

[@gerilynne1955]

Lovely piece. I would imagine at that time it was an unusual item. Makes today's stuff look like junk. Fine workmanship.

[@karenwright9123]

Such a delight,Thank you!!

[@MrJdsenior]

OMG, that is beautiful!

[@sarahprice659]

Wow. I want one! Fully expected to be weirded out, but everything about it was so expert, refined, and elegant. The maquette itself is a beautiful piece, the movement’s (though clearly not organic) have a smoothness to them. But I have to go, the harpsichord (or rather it’s predecessor) and the way the maquette played it was exquisite. The music doesn’t sound mechanical at all.

[@nozyspy4967]

Person today: "That's cool" Person 300 years ago: "Witchcraft!"

[@vinesauceobscurities]

More like "Off with her head!" from an angry revolutionary.

[@sohailagrami7813]

We can’t do any of those thing now because of covid

[@achanwahn]

More like, "clockwork!", but who wants to argue semantics these days... ? 😁

[@themysteriousdomainmoviepalace]

That is beautiful! What a work of art!

[@varolussalsanclar1163]

This is so much more difficult to engineer than any modern robot.

[@Shock_Treatment]

It's really not. It's basically a clock with a different function.

[@varolussalsanclar1163]

@@Shock_Treatment thats like saying a super computer is a calculator with a different function.

[@xyliu00]

@@varolussalsanclar1163 Let me rephrase @Steampunk Wolf comment: It's basically an elaborate cuckoo clock with a different function. More complex, yes. Fundamentally both obey the same mechanical principles. What you said about super computer is right too. Computer is more complex, yes. Both use the fundamentally similar logic circuitries.

[@colbysmith4002]

Steampunk Wolf then make it :) because computer coding is far easier to learn.

[@xyliu00]

@@colbysmith4002 if it is so much easier, go trying to make a computer from copper, silicon, and other raw materials so you can "code" on it.

[@bigding8977]

Can you imagine if you walked into a room and saw a life-sized one playing. And then it stopped playing and looked at you?

[@rickhobson3211]

Wonderful! I have to be honest though... I was waiting for the head to fall off.

[@stephaniepapaleo521]

Bahaaaaaa💥🔥

[@gagaplex]

Me too, especially with that necklace. It looked like it was meant to the pre-existing cut.

[@AH-sg8bn]

@@gagaplex not necessarily, those fitted necklaces were part of the wardrobe during the time.

[@areenkawaii]

The doll is beautiful, the music is beautiful 😍😍😍😍

[@itsourtubenow9729]

Imagine if decades past and that automaton went missing only later to be found by future historians and head was missing.

[@robinavalyn9513]

How marvelous!!! So glad I stumbled on this.

[@boogiefrights]

The sound is so pretty I love it:)

[@kittybitts9530]

How beautiful and realistic! A true work of art!

[@velvety2006]

I have seen too many horror movies, I kept expecting her to suddenly pull a demonic face or something 🤣 beautiful piece though

[@daniels7715]

That was amazing!!!! So beautiful!

[@leelabizbee]

See you all in 6 years when this is randomly recommended again

[@Angels-3xist]

That's absolutely crazy. Amazing.

[@melody272]

Marie-Antoinette a vu et entendu exactement ce que nous venons de voir et d'entendre. Troublant .....

[@stiannobelisto573]

Hope to see the teardown video next 👍🏻

[@larry-naylor]

How charming, just the fillip I need on a sad and gloomy day.

[@Leoviliti1]

How adorable.. such intricate mechanical precision.. The concept of incorporating a pianola whether it be a punched holed metal cylinder or punch holed paper roll in that tiny harpsichord the hammers she uses are sooo perfectly aligned ..it must have took a genius mind to accomplish this sweet offering for the Queen.. I can build a man out of plasticine... Hey does that make me a genius?

[@jayawilder3835]

Sure does - if you can get him to play a tune!

[@56bluegold]

Very Cool !

[@Sarah-lb2rf]

It's incredible that it survived the the craziness that happened ten years later

[@shan3622]

I can only imagine a Gentle men flirting behind her back then realize that she’s a robot

[@constantinosschinas4503]

i tried too but she seemed too busy playing.

[@WhoWantsToKnow81]

Absolutely mind blowing how this was accomplished hundreds of years ago!

[@geoleo965]

A shame that automatons aren't created nowadays, what a charming antique.

[@rsoubiea]

Amazing! She’s perfection.

[@janinevanmeerendonk2768]

I love marie antoinette so so so much💖😍💖

[@angieCity90]

i love Automatons!!! I feel like this technology has aged very well considering the smooth movements still!!!

[@shrumples1997]

This is very Amazing, But slightly Unsettling at the same time

[@Satanna.avemaria]

This should be the opening to a new movie of Marie Antoinette. It’s quite accurate to her and her life. Very symbolic 💖 Trapped in the confines of Versailles 😢🥲🌸

[@ronminerosenberg]

Her eyes are movingggg

[@peonyrose3541]

What a lovely piece of history! 😍

[@lairafly]

Nadie: KZbin: Toma este video de una autómata tocando en cuerdas de hace 7 años, sé que te va a gustar

[@pisceanrat]

1784? My, what astounding quality of craftmanship and tis well preserved!

[@sisigugelhupf2027]

Who does know the Song? I love it totaly.

[@itsshary18]

youtube just recommended this. absolutely beautiful

[@grandpamcdonald3718]

Who else has read it watched The Invention Of Hugo Cabret

[@elsakristina2689]

Me

[@amyp2942]

First Thought

[@alexrileyc]

Bit late to the question but I'm reading it now.

[@emmaedelmann220]

Grandpa McDonald me

[@lilmissrockchick4962]

Yeah it's a really good film ❤

[@boyinblue.]

This is amazingly well crafted