Cabaret Mechanical Theatre in Greenwich 12th Dec 2013 to 22nd February 2014 Visit our small London gallery exhibition, we have an inspiring workshop programme, plus automata from our collection, and a selection of new works. Artists include Paul Spooner, Keith Newstead, Lisa Slater, Simon Venus, Martin Smith, Richard Hackney and others.
Blog
Victoriana – The Art of Revival
A new exhibition opens at the City of London’s Guildhall on September 7th, and continues until December 8th 2013. From the macabre to the quaint, the sensational to the surreal, this is the first ever exhibition in the UK to offer a major examination of Victorian revivalism in all its forms. The exhibition will include […]
Four new one-off designs from Paul Spooner (SOLD)
Four new one-off designs from Paul Spooner, all using the same ingenious escapement mechanism for turning the heads. The mechanism is a kind of escapement. There’s a driving wheel constantly trying to turn the driven wheel which has four pins fixed vertically into its upper surface. A brass blade interferes with one of the pins, […]
The Patient by Paul Spooner
A new one-off piece from Paul Spooner. The teeth are made of the last of Spooner’s grandad’s boxwood rules. The jaws ratchet open then shut. Air travels from the bottom bellows up the leg tube into the little bellows. The small bellows is made with a kind of intestinal membrane called zephyrs, used for the […]
Interplanetary Gears by Patrick Bond
Now available to order, this very special design from Patrick Bond. Turn the handle and set your universe in motion. A flying saucer orbits the globe, the gears are made from parts of a bicycle, and the globe is made from welded steel beaten into shape. Height – approx 50 cm Individual customisation available if […]
Michael Landy – Saints Alive at The National Gallery
A series of large-scale kinetic sculptures by artist Michael Landy bring a contemporary twist to the lives of the saints at The National Gallery, London. This new collection of dramatic Tinguely-esque sculptures are enormous, noisy and mainly constructed from refuse. Well worth a visit if you are in the capital. Michael Landy: Saints Alive (2013) […]
Be Nice to Bees by Keith Newstead
Keith Newstead’s lovely flying bee is a charming present for the Queen Bee in your life, turn the handle safe in the knowledge that you won’t get stung! Made of recycled materials, wood, metal and paint. Each piece signed and numbered by the artist. 32 cm Tall £90 (excl. VAT)
Heart Beater by Martin Smith
This is a small version of Heart Machine, an alarming little machine to demand the attention of the one you love. Available in vibrant red or shiny brass. Martin Smith makes kinetic devices that investigate themes of humour, nonsense and futility. He originally designed and made the Heart Beater as a St Valentines Day gift […]
How to Make a Ratchet Mechanism – Dug’s Tips 11
How to Make a Ratchet Mechanism A ratchet can be a very useful mechanism within an automaton. It can be used to keep the handle from being turned the wrong way or to divide the cycle of action into a series of small steps. This is one way to extend the duration of the performance. […]
Le Clown sans Tête by Pierre Mayer
A new edition from French artist Pierre Mayer. Pierre, a magician and engineer, has been making beautiful limited edition magic themed automata for over 10 years. This latest piece is inspired by the original antique automata by Phalibois. The colourful clown amuses us by relocating his head to his box on the stage. Height 27 […]
