While Maillardet is most famous for his namesake automaton, he also created lesser-known—yet equally incredible—machines. In 1810, he designed a priceless moving silkworm. Fashioned from gold and enamel and encrusted with pearls, diamonds, and rubies, the 7-centimeter figurine wriggles and writhes like a real insect thanks to a nifty inner clockwork mechanism.
In 1811, Maillardet showcased the silkworm at a joint exhibition of automata co-hosted with famed watchmaker Jaquet Droz. There, the object was nicknamed the “Ethiopian Caterpillar”—a marketing ploy to draw curious visitors to the event. (Maillardet also displayed other figurines with exotic-sounding names, including the “Egyptian Lizard” and the “Siberian Mouse.”) Later, members of the Chinese Imperial Court are said to have owned the expensive plaything.
via Mental Floss
