The Temple of Dendur will be closed Sunday, April 26, through Friday, May 8. The Met Fifth Avenue will be closed on Monday, May 4.

Plan your visit
Tickets
English
DonateMembership
Tickets

Search for Art

1-42 of 18,683 results for ingenious mechanical devices
Sort by:
Show only
Images
Date
For BCE dates, enter a negative number. E.g. For 2000 BCE, enter -2000.
–
Object type / material
Geographic location
Department
"The Elephant Clock", Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari, Farrukh ibn `Abd al-Latif, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"The Elephant Clock", Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari
Farrukh ibn `Abd al-Latif
Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari
dated 715 AH/1315 CE
"Figure for Use at Drinking Parties", Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari, Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Figure for Use at Drinking Parties", Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari
Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari
dated 715 AH/1315 CE
"Design on Each Side for Waterwheel Worked by Donkey Power", Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari, Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Design on Each Side for Waterwheel Worked by Donkey Power", Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari
Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari
Farrukh ibn `Abd al-Latif
dated 715 AH/1315 CE
"Design for a Cup to Serve Wine at Drinking Parties", Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari, Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Design for a Cup to Serve Wine at Drinking Parties", Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari
Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari
dated 715 AH/1315 CE
"Design for a Clock in the Form of an Elephant with an Indian Driver", Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari, Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Design for a Clock in the Form of an Elephant with an Indian Driver", Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari
Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari
dated 715 AH/1315 CE
"Design for the Water Clock of the Peacocks", from the Kitab fi ma'rifat al-hiyal al-handasiyya (Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices) by Badi' al-Zaman b. al Razzaz al-Jazari, Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Design for the Water Clock of the Peacocks", from the Kitab fi ma'rifat al-hiyal al-handasiyya (Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices) by Badi' al-Zaman b. al Razzaz al-Jazari
Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari
dated 715 AH/1315 CE
Mechanical table, Jean-François Oeben French, born Germany, Oak veneered with mahogany, kingwood, and tulipwood, with marquetry of mahogany, rosewood, holly, and various other woods; gilt-bronze mounts; imitation Japanese lacquer; replaced silk, French
Mechanical table
Jean-François Oeben
Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix
ca. 1761–63
Mechanical Dog, Ivory (elephant), paint
Mechanical Dog
ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
Mechanical table, Jean Henri Riesener French, Oak veneered with mahogany and marquetry of bois satiné, sycamore, holly, ebonized holly fillets, and bayberry, the top with an amaranth border; gilt-bronze mounts; mirror glass; iron and brass fittings; green velvet (not original), French, Paris
Mechanical table
Multiple artists/makers
1781
Mechanical table à la Bourgogne, René Dubois, Oak, veneered with Japanese Nambam lacquer; rosewood, gilt-bronze mounts, French
Mechanical table à la Bourgogne
René Dubois
ca. 1760
Mechanical casket, Heinrich Gambs, Burr-maple, ebony and ebonized fruitwood, mahogany, birch, gold-colored silk and green baize, Russian, St. Petersburg
Mechanical casket
Heinrich Gambs
1800–1810
Mechanical table (Table mécanique), Jean Henri Riesener French, Oak veneered with marquetry of bois satiné, holly, amaranth, barberry, stained sycamore, and green-lacquered wood; gilt-bronze mounts; steel, iron and brass fittings; mirror glass; velvet (not original), French, Paris
Mechanical table (Table mécanique)
Jean Henri Riesener
Jean-Gotfritt Mercklein
1778
Mechanical Elements, Fernand Léger French, Oil on canvas
Mechanical Elements
Fernand Léger
1920
Mechanical Rowel Spur, Iron alloy, copper alloy, German
Mechanical Rowel Spur
German
18th century
Mechanical singing bird box in book form
Mechanical singing bird box in book form
between 1920 and 1939
Mechanical pencil, Silver, British, London
Mechanical pencil
British, London
1874–75
Mechanical watch, Gold, enamel, French or Swiss
Mechanical watch
French or Swiss
19th century
Mechanical watch, Gold, enamel, diamonds, Swiss
Mechanical watch
Swiss
ca. 1810–20
Mechanical watch, Gold, mother-of-pearl, gold, enamel, British, London
Mechanical watch
British, London
ca. 1710
Study for "Mechanical Elements", Fernand Léger French, Watercolor over graphite on paper
Study for "Mechanical Elements"
Fernand Léger
1918
Cranequin from the Armory of Emperor Maximilan I (reigned 1493/1508–19), Steel, wood (fruitwood, possibly pear), copper alloy, Western or Central European, the Netherlands or Austria
Cranequin from the Armory of Emperor Maximilan I (reigned 1493/1508–19)
Western or Central European, the Netherlands or Austria
ca. 1505–19
Pair of Candelabra, Tiffany & Co., Silver, American
Pair of Candelabra
Tiffany & Co.
1884
Lantern for a Lamp, Earthenware; carved decoration, unglazed
Lantern for a Lamp
9th–10th century
Peter Stretch American, Mahogany, pine; brass, steel, iron, bronze, silver, glass, American
Peter Stretch
Emanuel Rouse
1743–44
Lamp, Louis C. Tiffany American, Leaded Favrile glass and bronze, American
Lamp
Louis C. Tiffany
Tiffany Studios
1904–15
Tiles with the devices of Claude d'Urfé, Masséot Abaquesne French, Faience (tin-glazed earthenware), French, Rouen
Tiles with the devices of Claude d'Urfé
Masséot Abaquesne
ca. 1557–60
Bronze lamp, Bronze, Roman
Bronze lamp
Roman
1st century CE
Bronze lamp, Bronze, Roman
Bronze lamp
Roman
late 1st century CE
Valentine - mechanical bouquet, Anonymous, American, 19th century, Heavy card-stock, die cut card stock, chromolithography
Valentine - mechanical bouquet
Anonymous, American, 19th century
ca. 1875
Industrial exposition: mechanical hand for handling radioactive objects, Peking, Henri Cartier-Bresson French, Gelatin silver print
Industrial exposition: mechanical hand for handling radioactive objects, Peking
Henri Cartier-Bresson
1958, printed ca. 1972
Teakettle, lamp, and table, Simon Pantin I British, Silver, wood, British, London
Teakettle, lamp, and table
Simon Pantin I
1724–25
Chandelier, Glass, Irish
Chandelier
Irish
1770–80
Glass oil lamp, Glass, Roman
Glass oil lamp
Roman
ca. 2nd half of 1st century CE
Chandelier, Glass, probably Irish or possibly British
Chandelier
probably Irish or possibly British
ca. 1787
Hanging Lamp, Glass, colorless with green tinge; blown, applied handles
Hanging Lamp
10th–11th century
Set design for Abstract Revue of Moving Surfaces (Mechanical Theater), Andor Weininger American, born Hungary, Graphite, watercolor, and pen and black ink with traces of red crayon on paper
Set design for Abstract Revue of Moving Surfaces (Mechanical Theater)
Andor Weininger
1923
Valentine - Mechanical - romantic symbolism, Anonymous, British, 19th century British, Heavy card stock, chromolithography, die-cut scraps
Valentine - Mechanical - romantic symbolism
Anonymous, British, 19th century
ca. 1875
Valentine - Mechanical - elaborate fan, Anonymous, British, 19th century British, Heavy die-cut card stock, chromolithography, sewing thread
Valentine - Mechanical - elaborate fan
Anonymous, British, 19th century
1875
Valentine - Mechanical bouquet,crocus, Anonymous, British, 19th century British, Heavy card-stock, chromolithography with gilding, die-cut chromolithigraphed scraps, silk ribbon
Valentine - Mechanical bouquet,crocus
Anonymous, British, 19th century
ca. 1875
Valentine - Mechanical wreath, Anonymous, British, 19th century British, Heavy card-stock, die cut card stock, chromolithography
Valentine - Mechanical wreath
Anonymous, British, 19th century
ca. 1875
Valentine - Mechanical kaleidoscope, cherubs, Anonymous British, Heavy card-stock, die cut card stock, chromolithography with gilding, transparent film
Valentine - Mechanical kaleidoscope, cherubs
Anonymous
ca. 1875
Oval table, David Roentgen German, Oak, walnut, pine, cherry, and maple, veneered with maple, hornbeam, holly (all partially stained), cherry, mahogany, tulipwood, and other woods; gilt bronze, iron, brass, steel; partially tooled and gilded leather, German, Neuwied am Rhein
Oval table
David Roentgen
ca. 1774–80