Katja Collects: Paon Marchant (Walking Peacock), Automaton

The cooler month can soften our pace, while allowing our gaze to linger. Few objects reward it like Paon Marchant, a walking peacock automaton from late 19th-century Paris. Beneath its papier mâché body and real peacock feathers lies a steel and brass clockwork mechanism, an exquisite fusion of engineering and artistry. Now part of the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum, this elegant creature reminds us how wonder can be wound into motion.

Continue scrolling below the graphic to learn more on this fascinating collectible.

What:

Paon Marchant (Walking Peacock), automaton

Where:

Murtogh D. Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ

Details:

Roullet & Decamps, Paris, France, Steel & brass inner clockwork mechanism with papier maché body shell with real peacock feathers applied, c.1890-1900, 19 3/4” h x 20” w x 8 1/2”

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See It: 

Imagine a time when engineering, technology and artistry converged in new creations that wowed their audiences. I don’t mean virtual reality headsets, but rather the astounding mechanical toy pieces from the 19th century known as automata. These dolls and figures come to life through mechanized movement with an equal combination of art and craftsmanship. This mechanical peacock (Poan) is in the well-known collection of automata from the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection that is permanently housed at the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ.

The word “automaton” derives from the Greek automatos, meaning “acting of one’s own will.” Artists have experimented with devices that mimic natural movement and sounds for centuries, and by the 15th century, European artisans were crafting elaborate mechanical figures for royal courts and public spectacles. The artistry and engineering behind these pieces were often kept secret, with mechanisms hidden inside bodies and costumes. Nowadays, museums with automata in their collection, such as the Boston MFA as well as the Morris Museum, provide videos so the public can see how the automata functions. See the links at the end of the blog for more.

Yet automatons reached their golden age in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in France, Switzerland, and Germany. As Jere Ryder, Guinness Collection Conservator at the Morris Museum observes,

“It was during the industrial revolution that more simplified versions of automata coincided with an evolving middle class, a continued fascination with the exotic as well as replication/imitation of various life forms. Evolving fabrication techniques would make that next generation of automata more affordable to a growing audience. Therefore, the peak period of popularity for automata would have been 1850-1915, just before the onset of WWI. Automata were often sold through high-end Parisian Dept Stores such as Au Nain Bleu.”

Jean Roullet’s firm later joined forces with Ernest Decamps to form Roullet & Decamps—one of France’s largest and longest-running automata makers. Their partnership spanned from 1865 to 1995, a remarkable 130-year legacy of mechanical artistry. The company finally shuttered its doors at the close of the 20th century, leaving behind a storied archive of ingenuity and charm. The firm’s 1910 catalog depicts three differently sized models of a peacock automata, attesting to the popularity of this regal avian species throughout cultural history.

Collect it: 

Decorative automatons often have human or animal form and are usually created purely for entertainment or aesthetic pleasure. Popular motifs include dancing dolls, animal performers, and mechanical musicians. Functional automatons are another category, and these are integrated into clocks, watches, or other devices. Examples include cuckoo clocks and musical boxes with animated figures.

The value of automatons has grown steadily, driven by rarity, craftsmanship, and nostalgia. Prices vary widely based on condition, provenance, and originality.

Key Valuation Factors include:

• Maker and Age: Roullet & Decamps models from 1890–1920 command premium prices
• Condition: Original components, working mechanisms, and intact decorations significantly increase value
• Provenance: Documented history or ownership and/or museum exhibition

There are several specialized dealers of automata world-wide, many also focusing on an overlapping field of interest such as automatic musical instruments, dolls and toys. Dealers in automata can usually be sought out through specialized collector associations such as (but not limited to):

• The Musical Box Society Int’l
• National antique Doll Dealers Association
• Antique Toy Collectors of America

Auction houses like Christie’s, Bonhams, have featured automatons in specialty sales, and there are also niche auctioneers such as Theriault’s, Potter & Potter, or Galerie de Chartes. Always exercise due diligence when contemplating an acquisition. Authentication is crucial, especially with reproductions and restored models. Maker’s marks, construction techniques, and mechanism design are key indicators of authenticity.

Care for it: 

Collecting automatons is more than acquiring objects—it’s about preserving history, appreciating craftsmanship, and experiencing wonder at early mechanical and creative innovation. Enthusiasts often describe the joy of watching a mechanical figure come to life, performing actions with lifelike grace. Automatons should ideally be displayed in cases, to prevent exposure to dust and temperature and humidity fluctuations, which can cause subtle deterioration.

Many collectors engage in restoration, either personally or through specialists. This process involves sourcing parts, understanding historical mechanisms, and maintaining aesthetic integrity. Museums such as the Morris Museum, and online communities offer resources and support for both novice and seasoned collectors. A collection of automata can be insured as collectibles on the Berkley One Collections Suite policy.

Cover photo courteously provided by the Morris Museum.  

Links to videos of automata

• Selections from the Morris Museum
• The Boston MFA has a Diana and Stag automaton from c. 1610-20, made by Joachim Fries.

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