The sea is the most popular theme among wooden automata, and it suits the medium: slow, rolling motion is exactly what a few wires and cams do well. The MoveArtly ocean collection has eight ocean pieces today, including three whales, a manta ray, a sea turtle, a narwhal, a pair of dolphins and a jellyfish. This guide goes through them one by one, with what moves, how it is built and what it costs, so you can pick the one that fits your shelf. Prices are the live prices on 27 October 2026.
Whales: three ways to make one swim
Wavecrest, $139, is a striped wooden whale riding fine wires above a pale wood box with a wave-shaped top. Inside, a row of small cams lifts the wires one after another, so the whale rolls over the waves. It is rechargeable over USB-C and starts with a touch of the metal switch.
Tidehymn is the one to turn yourself. Its brass crank swims a jointed whale on three brass rods while a music box inside plays its tune. The frame is open, so gears, cams and the comb are all in view. It needs no batteries and costs $139 in pale wood or $169 in dark wood.
Floatfin is the one that floats. The Levitating edition ($199) holds a carved dark wood whale above a round pale wood base with magnets, and the base plugs in. The Standing edition ($129) sets the same whale on a slim brass rod above a dark wood stand and needs no power.
Manta ray: a glide on fine wires
Tidewing, $159, hangs a wooden manta ray on fine wires above a dark wooden tower. Its page explains the trick: one small motor turns a single shaft at a steady speed, wooden arms carry the turn out to the wings, and each arm takes it up a moment after the one before. One wing lifts a moment after the other, and a steady turn becomes a slow, uneven glide. You can choose the base: External gear shows the wheel turning, and Internal gear tucks it inside. It charges with the included USB-C cable.
Sea turtle: slow on purpose
Longshore, $159, is a sea turtle with a dark wooden shell and pale flippers, held on thin brass rods above an oval wooden base. Each of its four flippers is pinned at the shoulder, so it sweeps forward and back in a slow rowing stroke while the shell stays almost still. It measures 27 x 15 x 20 cm (10.6 x 5.9 x 7.9 in), the box includes a USB-C cable, and its low, wide shape suits a shelf or a sideboard as much as a desk.
Narwhal: the unicorn of the sea
Polar Lance is a segmented wooden narwhal with a long, fine tusk, hung on thin wires above a dark wooden box so that it swims in place with its tail rising and falling. It costs $119, or $129 with a music box built into the base. Three wires rise through slots in the box and move out of step, each lifting a different section of the body, so the whole body bends as it swims. A small switch on the box lid sets it rising and dipping. It runs on one AAA battery, not included. If you have seen a similar piece listed as a whale elsewhere, that is not a mistake: the page notes that it is one piece, a small whale with a narwhal tusk, and that some shops list it as a whale.
Dolphins: two in step
Twin Wake, $165, sets a pale dolphin and a dark dolphin rising and dipping together over carved wooden waves. A wooden arm and pins behind the waves lift the pair, and the two dolphins are linked, so one never jumps without the other. It measures 15.5 x 9.6 x 16 cm (6.1 x 3.8 x 6.3 in), small enough for a desk or a windowsill, and the box includes a USB-C cable. Its page suggests it as a gift for couples and best friends.
Jellyfish: a slow drift
Lanternbell, $129, is a wooden jellyfish on a square wooden base. Its tentacles sway and settle in a loose, unhurried rhythm, and it reads as a sculpture first before it starts to move. A small motor drives it, and you will hear it turning. We have not measured the noise yet, so if it is louder than you like, you can return it within 30 days.
How to choose between the ocean pieces
- Want to see the machinery? Choose Tidehymn, with its open frame, or Tidewing with the External gear base.
- Want no batteries and nothing to charge? Choose Tidehymn, or the Standing edition of Floatfin.
- Want the lowest price? Polar Lance starts at $119, and the Standing edition of Floatfin is $129.
- Want a pair? Twin Wake has two dolphins in one motion.
- Want a shelf piece? Longshore is a wide, low shape made for a shelf or a sideboard.
Not sure how any of this works inside? Read How Wooden Automata Work. Setting one up? See our setup and care guide. Buying for someone? Our gift guide sorts the whole collection by recipient and budget. Prefer birds and dragons? Our guide to flying wooden automata covers the flying pieces, and the full MoveArtly collection has them all.
