Paul Spooner, Life, Love, Death, 2002, a hand-operated automaton, wood, painted wood, wire,...

Paul Spooner, Life, Love, Death, 2002, a hand-operated automaton, wood, painted wood, wire, signed P. Spooner Stithians, approx. 26cm high, 16.5cm wide, 5.5cm deep (a/f); together with another hand-operated automaton by Matt Smith, Three Physical Jerks, designed by Paul Spooner, 2001, wood, wire, springs, signed Matt Smith, titled Three Physical Jerks, signed Matt Smith and with label for FOURTEEN BALLS TOY.CO.UK, approx. 16.5cm high, 21cm wide, 6.5cm deep (2)

Sir Nicholas Goodison noted:

Life, Love, Death: In the top compartment (Life) the girls belly moves, in the middle (Love) the bed cover heaves above the lovers, in the lowest (Death) nothing moves in the grave mound. There is something poignant about the limp winding handle of the grave.

Three Physical Jerks: The three Anubis figures stretch their arms and legs in unison, as in a gym class. The written paper on the end reads These three lithe beings represent part of the large force of well-trimmed slaves employed by female Pharoahs (sic). Before commencing their duties, they must work up a light sweat in order to develop the full fragrance of the rare unguents with which their bodies have been anointed (sic).

Provenance:

Life, Love, Death: Purchased, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, London, December 2002. Exhibited: Out of the Box, Air Gallery, London, December 2002.

Three Physical Jerks: Purchased, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, London, 2002. Exhibited: A Collectors Collection, Strawberry Hill, June-November 2014.

Note: Paul Spooner, b.1948, went to art school and taught before becoming an automatist in his early thirties when he moved to Cornwell and met Peter Markey.Sue Jacksons shop, Cabaret, which specialised in mechanical toys, provided the perfect place for him to create and sell his humorous moving sculptures.

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