The Museum’s Iconography
An artistic perspective on mechanical music
The Mechanical Music Museum of Les Gets holds an exceptionally rich collection of iconographies,which complements and enhances its musical instrument collections.
A true source of wonder and reflection, all these artworks offer a deeper understanding of the world of mechanical music through the eyes of artists.
Works for understand history
From the very creation of the museum, the representation of mechanical music in art has been considered essential.
These works allow visitors to:
– Visualise instruments in their historical context
– Understand how they were used in society
– Discover their cultural and popular significance
Present in everyday life, these instruments inspired many artists and were depicted across a wide variety of media.
A Remarkable Collection
The museum presents a particularly rich iconographic collection, including:
- Nearly 300 paintings
- Over 100 statuettes
- Numerous decorated objects such as plates, mosaics, and miniatures
This diversity reflects the importance of mechanical music in the collective imagination..
The barrel organ player Gilles FABRE, France, second half of the 20th century
Renowned Artists
Young girl and musical toy, early 20th century
Some exhibited works are signed by well-known artists, illustrating the fascination this world has inspired:
Louis Toffoli
Chocarne-Moreau
Poulbot
Steinlein
Jacques Villon
Jean-Louis Forain
The museum also features more unexpected works, such as a lithograph by Pablo Picasso and a creation by Banksy.
Teasing by Paul CHOCARNE-MOREAU around 1910
The barrel organ player and the monkey tamer are animating a village by William Henri HEBERT, Switzerland end of the 19th century
A unique documentary resource
- Nearly Nearly 1,000 books,some dating back to the 16th century
- Over Over 4,000 postcards, photographs, and chromolithographs
- des Technical plans
- des and archival films