18th-century engraving showing all three of Vaucanson’s automata — the “Flutist” to the left, “Piper” to the right, and the notorious duck in the middle. Featured in Henry René d’Allemagne’s Histoire des jouets (1902).
Featured on PDR in the essay Frolicsome Engines: The Long Prehistory of Artificial Intelligence
Defecating ducks, talking busts, and mechanised Christs — Jessica Riskin on the wonderful history of automata, machines built to mimic the processes of intelligent life.
Also appearing in the essay…
Vaucanson’s Automata
Date
1902
From
Histoire des jouets
Source
More From
Digital Rights
- No associated rights statement on Internet Archive. However, source confirmed by email no additional rights.
- See their general rights page
- We offer this info as guidance only