Cabaret Mechanical Theater August 22, 2010

On display at the Museum are over 40 mechanical sculptures, called automata, which are intricately designed and full of humor. Their humor is brought to life by tiny cranks, pulleys and gears that allow the sculptures to move and take action. Twenty can be operated by museum visitors who will find it hard to resist bringing the creations to life at the touch of a button. Upon first glance, the automata are curious objects with a playful demeanor, but when the gears and pulleys move into action, the simple yet remarkable mechanics are revealed.