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

[@cactus-wren]

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

[@transmeeshax6872]

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

[@Weesel71]

Not a Windows (r) product.

[@astronomiaescrituras9089]

so this clock was made in 1627?

[@misterakt]

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]

Thanks, Alexander!

[@cm9439]

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.

[@amandajstar]

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.

[@juliashenandoah3965]

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

[@jashbrown8079]

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

[@annecohen8927]

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

[@transmeeshax6872]

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

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

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.

[@michaelheintz8853]

This is beyond cool.

[@metmuseum]

We think so too! Many thanks.

[@blipblip88]

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

[@U_N_Owen]

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

[@gabbiesdreamworld12]

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

[@asoupofprunes3895]

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

[@ascendingdeity9303]

oh my goodness it’s so precious 😳 💕

[@amp-le4699]

I am so in love with these things

[@janelle144]

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]

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.

[@cynthiablandford6213]

Eerily beautiful!

[@Meowewoi]

such eerie music

[@shaneyaw4542]

This is the evidence of mastery at work.

[@lmarti204]

Wonderful!

[@philthycat1408]

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

[@ericdavids9667]

Such amazing craftsmanship 👍

[@judyvispi]

Love it!

[@carolinabarrientos1618]

Very impressive!

[@Dive-Bar-Casanova]

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

[@56bluegold]

Amazing !!!

[@mablestark6501]

This is amazing

[@nordiskkatt]

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

[@deannastevens1217]

WOW!! AMAZING!!!

[@charlietrone4761]

Wow that's really an old thing.

[@chocotejon]

Fascinating

[@eh_.bp13]

I'm touched...

[@ObjectHistory]

That is so beautiful

[@ianelley]

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

[@geoffdundee]

WOW amazing and very special

[@yk-et3un]

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

[@faisalmir9300]

A masterpiece...

[@thomaszaccone3960]

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

[@litoboy5]

AMAZING

[@acastrohowell]

Awesome

[@randomconsumer4494]

YAAAAAAY!!! AGAIN AGAIN!!!

[@deirdremorris9234]

Wow!!

[@Drenov]

This needs restoration

[@litoboy5]

Wow ❤

[@jeffzamos9667]

The music is horrendous but truely a masterwork of clockmaking

[@salvatore3915]

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

[@jefferee2002]

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

[@esthertan694]

Absolutely spooky

[@SamsungUser69]

Sounds like kitten meowing lol

[@aristhelynranalan1702]

my childhood fascination.wow

[@perisssss]

nice melody

[@metmuseum]

Thank you!

[@juntapuchos]

Is it available on ITunes?

[@8nansky528]

I ADORE READING

[@invasorispaziali3737]

Does the Song has a name?

[@jparr17]

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

[@weerobot]

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

[@haydenamaro]

Definitely some odd fet vibes afoot with the windery

[@johnfitzgerald2339]

Yeah, but does the _clock_ work?

[@pigeonman1134]

What's this song called?

[@pigeonman1134]

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

[@8nansky528]

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

[@Joseph-fd8bp]

wowwww

[@64bit-]

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

[@leftrightfall]

let the nightmares begin.

[@obrien6320]

Good god tune that thing...

[@memoir5358]

straight otta horror movies

[@hakimmerchant6600]

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

[@tjtreinen7381]

wow

[@anastasias.7186]

😮😮😮

[@scerges]

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

[@fratiorgan]

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

[@capmidnite]

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

[@somasubstance]

Clang!

I have a similar model at home.

[@kencur9690]

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

[@MarciaPereira-yu3hp]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🇧🇷

[@harpsichordkid]

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]

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]

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

[@robinlagelius]

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

[@jackwoodhouse9041]

I have the same key!

[@TheStalitha]

Be still for there is strange music

[@AlexandreFijolek]

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

[@baudobill547]

What a sad music :/

[@lanapoort3317]

The rhythm of this is 13/66

[@matiasylasmanualidades9527]

Megusta

[@Sunt-bine]

Beautifully creepy.

[@watanglipuhadjar2654]

is there still anyone who can make it today ?

[@yippedoodah]

Me and the gang after we get vaccinated

[@Frogs_and_cats]

Clock: 0:10 bababebobababeboobababeboobababeboo

[@ga1actic_muffin]

what music was like back in 1625...

[@mcwooley]

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

[@permijitdunkley5149]

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..@#.

[@michaelleguen]

😅

[@karenspeciale3474]

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

[@xackaryphobe]

Gumball recorders

[@andreweden9405]

"Requarters"🤣.25¢

[@MrUranium238]

creepy

[@luceromendozaavalos6698]

Totally

[@troubledseed]

I am uncomfortable.

[@jcrules2413]

Creepiest thing I've seen today.

[@matthewanstis1964]

Nightmare fodder

[@evanosburn718]

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

[@mclovin8739]

I'll give you 50 quid for it

[@Frogs_and_cats]

Wth is a spiinet

[@CBF1]

Wher'es the proof that this was made in the 1620's?

[@piusx8317]

Condition of the piece is a give away lol

[@slc679]

Well, I don’t see anyone making this nowadays. Everything is made in factories

[@CBF1]

Sadly yes, but not everything is machine made

[@charlietrone4761]

Its on the receipt.

[@CBF1]

It's got the original receipt?