Maria Start

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]

  1. ^ McAlley, N. (2014, September). Let’s do lunch. Highland Life, Issue 116
  2. ^ "The strange dolls that come to life". BBC Reel. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  3. ^ "BBC Radio Scotland - The Movie Café, 22/03/2012". BBC. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  4. ^ "The House of Automata". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  5. ^ "The House Of Automata". Euan Myles. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  6. ^ 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)