There are corners of the horological world that exist far-off from the newest Rolex drop or public sale consequence. One nook is automata, and one of many main conservationists within the subject is Brittany Cox. She is the lady behind Memoria Technica, a store in Seattle specializing in restoring and preserving a number of the rarest horological and mechanical contraptions in existence.
1. You are a self-described “Antiquarian Horologist.” What does that entail, and the way’d you arrive within the place?
I’m a clock and watchmaker who specializes within the conservation and restoration of vintage sophisticated clocks, watches, automata, mechanical magic, and mechanical music objects.
I spent 9 years in increased schooling incomes my WOSTEP, CW21, and SAWTA watchmaking certifications, two clockmaking certifications, and a grasp’s within the Conservation of Clocks and Associated Dynamic Objects from West Dean Faculty, UK, and am Skilled Affiliate of the American Institute for Conservation.
Cox with a rose engine machine.
2. What’s concerned within the pursuit of a grasp’s in Horological Conservation?
It’s not for the faint of coronary heart. Beginning with a four-year undergraduate diploma in a associated subject – engineering, math, conservation, and so on. – you possibly can then enter a two-year basis program at West Dean Faculty in clockmaking. As soon as accomplished, you spend one other two years in a graduate-level MA program for conservation of clocks and associated dynamic objects. I tacked on two years of watchmaking faculty previous to making use of to West Dean Faculty with the intention to study micro-mechanics and finer work.
three. What was the impetus behind the creation of Memoria Technica?
Memoria Technica is Latin for a technical machine that assists the reminiscence. It’s a phrase used to explain a operate of language, however I used to be charmed by the concept that it may describe a timepiece, automaton, or magic equipment. I imagine these objects assist us to recollect marvel, magnificence, and that point is of the essence – a recall to that outdated thought “tempus fugit” in a Momento Mori watch.
Singing chook automaton, with the mechanism revealed.
The workshop is a piece in progress. Presently, it gives a approach for me to work on the objects that I deem most treasured for people who maintain them in excessive esteem, be it personal purchasers or establishments. It permits me to show engine turning, make new issues, and share concepts. I hope sooner or later it is going to present a spot for individuals to grow to be a horologist/artist in residence, witness a magic present of mechanical marvel, and find out about a craft critically endangered by the very nature of the factor it serves.
four. Are you able to describe a singular mission you have labored on that encapsulates the world of automata and spotlights its magic?
The article I’ve at all times held within the highest regard, that I really feel encapsulates every thing horology has to supply at its finest, is the Silver Swan automaton. It’s the stuff of desires. My position was minor, however I used to be capable of help my tutor on the time, Matthew Learn, in some routine upkeep of the pulley system for the motion of the fish. The Swan sits in a mattress of contra-rotating twisted glass rods to simulate the motion of water. On this pool of swirling glass swim golden fish. The swan spots one after preening its feathers and decides to gobble it up. This all occurs to the tune of twinkling bells supplied by one in all three clock mechanisms within the base. What’s so miraculous to me about this object is that the creators, James Cox and John Joseph Merlin, truly engineered a method to generate the reflection of the motion of water on the underside of the Swan’s silver feather breast.
Miniature mechanical memorial to the Battle of Trafalgar, made in 1810. When activated, the ship appears to bob up and down in tough seas, whereas a tune performs.
5. How do automatons match into the bigger world of horology?
They’re made utilizing a whole lot of the identical expertise, however are altogether totally different than different horological objects. They had been made to astound, incite worry, and take a look at the boundaries of human ingenuity.
Usually automata had been used as a method to make a timepiece a type of leisure along with their timekeeping operate. I’ve labored on multi-tiered clocks with blooming and rotating flowers, clocks with singing birds, and watches with shifting figures.
Rose engine machine, used for making complicated geometric patterns.
6. What does the way forward for conserving horological artwork appear to be? Have the usual practices modified over time?
An instance of an engine-turned dial.
Horological conservation is comparatively new. After I acquired my grasp’s in horological conservation, there have been three of us on the earth with that certification: my tutor, a fellow classmate, and myself. The usual practices of any self-discipline change with time, as new expertise, analysis, and supplies come to mild. The sphere and its practices will proceed to enhance, so long as the hand abilities wanted to do the work effectively are handled with as a lot care and respect because the objects themselves.
7. Of their heyday, automata represented not solely innovative engineering options, but additionally an try and duplicate precise organic life. How does that aspiration affect your method to them at present?
I’m very glad you requested this query, as I really feel context is usually missed by horologists. Horology has an interesting historical past and is a toddler of 4 sacred topics in Greece, referred to as the Quadrivium: arithmetic, the examine of numbers; geometry, the examine of numbers in area; music, the examine of numbers in time; and astronomy, the examine of numbers in area and time. The historical past of this subject is wealthy in human endeavor, ingenuity, vulnerability, and wonder. I may go on at size about this, however nobody will ever end studying this interview.
Cox is dedicated to protecting bygone traditions alive
These info affect each second at my bench. I’m ruled by a historical past and a lineage my life will not be separate from. I’m defending and preserving an important facet of our heritage. I usually really feel related to the previous after I work on the objects made by candlelight, by the fingers of craftsmen not not like my very own. These objects had been made to elicit marvel and pleasure. The individuals who made them devoted their lives to creating them effectively. These abilities are hard-won, and I usually replicate on the hardships that introduced these items into existence.
eight. Your work necessitates an understanding of and facility with an virtually limitless variety of methods and horological theories. Do you discover reproducing ornamental or technical achievements tougher?
It actually will depend on the ornament or the technical machine in query. Some issues are simply outright unlawful to breed in the USA – for instance, mercury gilding. That is extraordinarily laborious to match, and I’ve solely achieved this (when precise mercury gilding will not be an possibility) by means of a mix of plating and utilizing gold impregnated ink.
I additionally recall having to make a jewel for a detent in an Arnold chronometer. The Arnold detent escapement is a bit totally different than different detent escapements, so the jewel form could be very particular. Strive discovering a drawing or reference of what precisely that ought to appear to be.
9. Wristwatches are relative latecomers in horological historical past. Do you suppose that the main target so many collectors have on wristwatches signifies that a lot of the actual historical past of horology continues to be unknown and under-appreciated?
The Silver Swan automaton was purchased by John and Joséphine Bowes for his or her museum on the value of scrap. It went from being revered by Mark Twain in a Paris exhibition to being thought-about nugatory. I can’t think about what it might fetch if it went up on the market at present.
I feel appreciation is about context. So usually we overlook to look again and give attention to trying ahead. There’s a complete world to be found if one takes a second to marvel.
A curiosity at Cox’s workshop
I’m glad wristwatches are discovering a time in historical past to be liked and loved. Automata have loved that highlight up to now and can once more sooner or later. I simply hope I’m alive to see it.
10. The tasks you’re employed on in some way discover their method to Seattle. How does that occur?
I hand carry a whole lot of objects like chook containers, carriage clocks, and such. Purchasers usually hand-deliver them to me as effectively. As a result of most individuals do not actually know what automata are, it is at all times fascinating to undergo airport safety. They’re not likely certain cope with it. I as soon as was accused of smuggling human stays as a result of they thought the case of a carriage clock I used to be engaged on seemed like an urn.
