Peter Markey, 1930-2016, Dragon, a hand-operated automaton, wood, painted wood, approx....

Peter Markey, 1930-2016, Dragon, a hand-operated automaton, wood, painted wood, approx. 12.8cm high, 14.7cm wide, 3.5cm deep; together with other pieces by the same artist, comprising: Fish, a hand-operated automaton, wood, painted wood, bearing label printed PETER MARKEY DESIGN, approx. 12cm high, 25.2cm wide, 9.5cm deep; Walking Bird, a hand-wound automaton, wood, wire, signed Peter Markey 2002, approx. 11.3cm high, 18cm wide, 4.8cm wide; Mechanical Dinosaur, designed by Peter Markey, made by Eric Williamson, a hand-operated automaton, wood, uncoloured approx. 17cm high, 22cm wide, 5.7cm deep; and another uncoloured hand-operated automaton designed by Peter Markey, Beetle, wood, uncoloured, approx. 17.5cm high, 14cm wide, 14cm wide (5)

Sir Nicholas Goodison noted:

Dragon: The friction driven cams raise and lower the cats body and its spiky tail, and the dragon breathes fire out of the left side of his mouth (or is he licking his lips with fire?) as the dowel supporting the tongue is turned to and fro by the two eccentric cams on the shaft. The dragon doesnt look that fierce, but the tongue/flames probably impress any victim.

Fish: this is typical of Markeys all wood mechanisms, in this case an articulated fish whose body wriggles when the handle is wound. Judging from its size and its sharp fin it is probably a predator, but its bright colours and lack of teeth argue otherwise.

Mechanical dinosaur: The dinosaur, obviously some species of tyrannosaurus, walks or runs, opening and closing his tooth-lined mouth, hoping perhaps to catch and consume other automata. The mechanism is entirely composed of levers. This is another of Peter Markeys designs that he left uncoloured so that the buyer could choose his own colours, or not as the case may be. Many of these designs were sold in kit form. See also Beetle.

Provenance:

Fish: Purchased, Hitchcocks, Bath, June 1993.

Dragon: Purchased, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, Covent Garden, October 1996.

Walking Bird: Commissioned, Peter Markey, October 2002, Exhibited: A Collectors Collection, Strawberry Hill, June-November 2014.

Mechanical dinosaur: Purchased, Avocet, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, June 1999.

Beetle: Purchased, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales, May 1988.

Note: Peter Markey, 1930-2016, studied painting at Swansea School of art. He went on to teach art for 25 years before beginning to make his first simple wood automata in 1980.His work is known for its simplicity of design and the use of bright colours.

Roseberys do not guarantee the working order of any automata or toy.