146,500 CHF
Singing Bird Orange Tree Attributed to Jaquet Droz, Geneva, circa 1780, the porcelain attributed to the Manufacture de La Reine, retailed by Ardiot a Paris. Highly important and extremely rare porcelain singing bird orange tree with three birds and a clock, playing seven tunes on demand or on the hour. Round porcelain vase with six panels painted with flower bouquets separated by gilt porcelain columns, three apertures for winding the clock, the singing bird movement, and changing the tunes, the front with foliate finial, six porcelain feet with gilt decoration, orange tree of paper pulp and painted fabric with white flowers and fruits, an animated bird perching on the top and two sitting among the branches, grass below of cut and painted paper. White enamel, Arabic numerals, Gilt brass Louis XVI hands. Square, brass full plate, fusee and chain, verge escapement, four-arm brass balance wheel, blued steel balance spring. Music: two tier brass, reversed fusee and chain, fly governor with endless screw, two adjustable wings to regulate the tempo, brass pinned cylinder with eleven pewter pipes, brass lifters, rectangular wooden bellows, string mechanism for the bird which turns, flaps its wings, and moves its beak and tail.Dim. height 67 cm, vase diameter 30 cm. Notes From a Swiss Gentleman Pierre Jaquet Droz (1721-1790) Born on July 28, 1721 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Pierre Jaquet Droz was the son of a farmer who was an occasional clockmaker as well. He studied humanities and Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-04-24
