Abstract of Item: Humanoid Automaton

[jhameia]

Item is a figurine with a porcelain surface, and extremely delicate clockwork pieces inside. These pieces, however, are variously made of wood and metal, instead of the expected all metal inside. The woods are cured, well-preserved hardwood (impossible to tell what species), and the metals are variously brass, iron and bronze. It is uncertain why the inventor chose such a diverse range of metals for a single piece.

This item was found in an ivory box, lined with sheepskin, likely to cushion the figurine. On the cover are Chinese characters, and it took a while to translate these - pinyin transliteration is: "Tok Tok Rén"*

Measurements:
Box: Width: 20cm; Length: 30cm; Depth: 10cm
Figurine: Length: 25cm; Width: 10cm; Breadth: 5cm

The figurine appears to have had a face, but the paint has faded. The porcelain also appears to be stained; with what, we're not sure. There is a little notch on the back, presumably for a windup key. As yet, we are unsure of the function of this piece.

Note:
* Perhaps this is an onomatopeia, in reference to the kind of sound it makes when active. I would appreciate it if my Chinese colleagues could verify this for me. If there's tok tok meen, then surely there can be tok tok men. Of course, tok tok meen is colloquial Malaysian-Hokkien, isn't it? Are there equivalents in the Chinese provinces? If the former, then perhaps this piece is Malayan in origin. I confess my lack of knowledge of the Middle Kingdom fails me here.

Comments

[kamigoroshi]

The fact that the face is made from porcelain, one can only speculate that the figurine is ornamental in nature, perhaps made for nobles and royalty in mind. It is not unheard off for upper class society to have such intricate clockwork designs as novelty items.

[jhameia]

Yeah, but what does it do, is the question.

[kamigoroshi]

It sounds very intricately detailed and above all, very fragile, it makes it seem like its just a toy without any practical use. What does any toy do short of amusing people?

[jhameia]

Don't make me go into Jack Skellington "interesting reaction... but what does it mean?!" mode. The resultant angst is not pretty.

[frangipani]

Maybe it's a noodle-maker.

... Perhaps its maker made it because s/he could. *eyetwitch*

[jhameia]

.... The tok tok man makes tok tok meen.

relevant clip is relevant

[horusporus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejROvUC-gWU - all i'm saying... robots!