The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Art Object

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

Watch a demonstration of Queen Marie Antoinette's Automaton playing one of eight melodies it can perform.

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).

View a full documentary featuring this object: http://www.cerimes.fr/le-catalogue/la-joueuse-de-tympanon.html

Footage courtesy of CERIMES.

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

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 10679 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16910 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3027 views

Thread winder

Date:: early 19th century
Culture:: Russian, Tula
Medium:: Cut steel
Dimensions:: Overall (confirmed): 6 x 2 7/8 x 2 7/8 in. (15.2 x 7.3 x 7.3 cm)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: Purchase, Friends of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Gifts, 2011
Accession Number:: 2011.414

This artwork is not on display

WHAT IS MYMET?

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

Thread winder

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store

WHAT IS MYMET?

Already have a mymet account? Sign in

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

Related Content

Thread winder

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store