Sainte-Croix: the Swiss village that keeps the tradition of automata alive

Automata – mechanical sculptures that appear to come to life – and their makers are the focus of the “Mechanical Marvels” exhibition at the Maison de la Mécanique d’Art in Geneva. It showcases artists and craftspeople from the village of Sainte-Croix, who have built on years of expertise in watchmaking mechanics and artistic techniques to create stunning automatons and music boxes. Sainte-Croix in canton Vaud in western Switzerland is sometimes referred to as the “Silicon Valley of automata”, in reference to the imaginative mechanical figures which can move automatically. The small village has a long history of mechanical art and is a treasure trove of age-old craftsmanship, preserving the secrets of its mechanical wonders. “This craft goes back several centuries,” says Denis Flageollet, master watchmaker and founder of the De Béthune brand, who works in Sainte-Croix. “The abundance of ore and wood, and the farmers’ free time in winter, allowed for the development of this intricate ...