The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Art Object

David Roentgen's Automaton of Queen Marie Antoinette, The Dulcimer Player (La Joueuse de Tympanon)

Watch this surprising video of an automaton play the dulcimer.

David Roentgen (1743–1807) took his royal patron by surprise when he delivered this beautiful automaton to King Louis XVI for his queen, Marie Antoinette, in 1784. The cabinetry for this piece is very much a neoclassical masterwork, and the mechanism behind it is truly extraordinary: the figure strikes the strings in perfect rhythm with two small metal hammers held in her hands, which move with great precision.

This object, from the Musée des arts et métiers de Paris, is featured in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens (on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013).

See the full video: http://www.cerimes.fr/le-catalogue/la-joueuse-de-tympanon.html

Footage courtesy of CERIMES.

Video/Audio (4)

David Roentgen: Long-Case Clock
(00:00:52)

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 10549 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16461 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3008 views

Miniature teapot

John Troby (active 1787–1804/5)

Date:: 1805
Culture:: British, London
Medium:: Silver, ivory
Dimensions:: H. 2 3/4 in. (7.0 cm)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: The Joseph M. and Aimee Loeb May Collection, 1963
Accession Number:: 63.53.21

This artwork is not on display

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Inscription: (Engraved on front) LC

Marking: [1] Leopold's head crowned [2] K (London date letter for 1805-1806) [3] Lion passant [4] King's head [5] I.T. (maker's mark) Location of marks: All on underside of base.
See also
Who
John Troby (1)
What
Metal (59,364)

Metalwork (14,716)

Silver (14,056)

Bone (6,328)

Ivory (5,389)

Miniature (768)

Teapots (652)
Where
Europe (148,586)

United Kingdom (25,557)

England (9,102)

London (2,006)
When
A.D. 1800-1900 (80,185)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Great Britain and Ireland, 1800–1900 A.D.

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David Roentgen's Automaton of Queen Marie Antoinette, The Dulcimer Player (La Joueuse de Tympanon)

Miniature teapot

John Troby (active 1787–1804/5)

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David Roentgen's Automaton of Queen Marie Antoinette, The Dulcimer Player (La Joueuse de Tympanon)

Related Content

Miniature teapot

John Troby (active 1787–1804/5)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store