Automata are mechanical moving figures; throughout history their lifelike movements have fascinated such creative minds as Da Vinci and Faberge. One century ago however, production fell silent. Now ...

In the Russia of Czar Nicholas II, no secret was more closely guarded than the surprises inside the precious eggs he gave to his wife and mother each Easter. Even Nicholas himself didn't know in ...

Appraisal: Lambert Magician Automaton, ca. 1900, from Santa Clara, Hour 2. Check out Noel Barrett's appraisal of a 1900 Lambert Magician Automaton, in Santa Clara, Hour 2.

Get a closer look at this Ducommun automaton repeater watch after the appraisal! Get another look at this Ducommun automaton repeater watch after the appraisal!

Polar bears are some of the most charismatic megafauna we’ve got, and even early robot makers, it turns out, were charmed by them. This delightful little polar bear that blows bubbles is an early ...

A Chicago doctor can direct surgery via satellite. Susan, on the South Side, can message her pal Shan in sister city Shanghai as fast as she can say shredded pork. Advanced technology is mind-blowing.

We've made some important changes to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and we want you to know what this means for you and your data. We and our partners use ...

ANTIQUES Roadshow concluded last night with a staggering £80,000 valuation for an eerie 130-year-old ‘automaton’. The moving statue of a snake charmer picked up ...