Barrel Piano 1850 - 1870

"Barrel Piano" is a detailed automaton created by George Hicks between 1850 and 1870. The wooden cabinet is composed of several compartments, with the top section revealing a series of strings, a winding mechanism, and a hand-painted scene. The bottom compartment is where the music box is located. The automaton’s depiction of musicians playing a musical score provides insight into the 19th-century cultural fascination with both musical instruments and mechanical creations. "Barrel Piano" is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.