Imagine this: music is playing; the circus troupe artists are getting ready for their performance, while a real circus show unfolds beneath the spreading trees…

In front of us is a wondrous musical clock automaton called "The Instrumental Troupe" – a miniature mechanical theatre that brings to life the magical world of old-time Itinerant circuses.

Its protagonists may well be itinerant acrobats and tightrope walkers, who once amazed audiences with their dizzying stunts at fairs and city squares.

However, a most intriguing detail lies concealed within the branches.
Take a closer look at the flags! You can recognize the symbols of several countries at once. Could this be a hint at the international makeup of the circus troupe?

Similar mechanical compositions are known among works attributed to Phalibois, but this particular piece can undoubtedly be called one of the most impressive of its kind.

Art, music, mechanics, and a touch of circus magic—all combined in one extraordinary exhibit!

On the cover: Musical automaton with clock "Instrumental troupe". Jean-Marie Phalibois. France. Circa 1880