Maria Start (born 14 December 1966) is a British automata maker and restorer.[1] She trained in Fashion design in Maidenhead, Berkshire, and now specialises in the conservation and restoration of antique automata, with a focus on 19th Century automata.[2]
Maria Start is co-founder of "The House of Automata". Together with her husband, Michael Start, they restore and deal in antique automata.[3] Founded in London, it is now based in the North of Scotland, where “The House of Automata” operates from a workshop studio.[4][5][6]
Media and television edit
Maria Start features as an expert on Salvage Hunters- The Restorers, produced by Quest and Discovery Channel. Together with her husband Michael, they appear in Series 3, 4, 5 and 6, as experts in Automata restoration & similar mechanical toys and games.[7][8] [9]
References edit
- ^ McAlley, N. (2014, September). Let’s do lunch. Highland Life, Issue 116
- ^ "The strange dolls that come to life". BBC Reel. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
- ^ "BBC Radio Scotland - The Movie Café, 22/03/2012". BBC. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
- ^ "The House of Automata". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
- ^ "The House Of Automata". Euan Myles. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
- ^ Thuras, D. (2020, April 30). Show & Tell: The Mechanical Magic of Scotland’s House of Automata. Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/videos/the-mechanical-magic-of-scotland-s-house-of-automata (13 March 2019)
- ^ Quest TV. (2020, July 9). Restoring Rare 19th Century Roullet-Decamps Drumming Bear Automaton | Salvage Hunters: The Restorers. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL2nS1PXZXQ
- ^ Start, M. (2020, July 11). Magician & Drumming Bear – The Restorers on Quest TV | The House of Automata. The House of Automata. https://thehouseofautomata.com/2020/07/11/drumming-bear-the-restorers-on-quest-tv/
- ^ McAlley, N. (2020, April 8). Couple’s antique clockwork characters are worldwide hit. STV News. https://news.stv.tv/highlands-islands/couples-antique-clockwork-characters-are-worldwide-hit?top