9,440 CHF
“Fleur de Mysterieuse” Attributed to Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, Paris. Made circa 1865. Fine and rare, gilded bronze, eight-day going, hour and halfhour striking mystery clock. In the form of a stylised flower head issuing from a git bronze foliate stalk with winged lion base, waisted pedestal with cast foliate and scroll mounts and cherub figure in the center, the whole standing on gessoed gilt wood base. White enamel with painted radial Roman numerals, outer minute track. Blued steel pierced “trefoil” hands. Brass, Paris type, going barrels, anchor escapement, silk suspension, pendulum with brass bob, count wheel set on the back plate, striking the hours and half-hours on an underslung bell. Dim. Height 40 cm, width 18.5 cm. Property of an Swiss collector Notes Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin (1805 - 1871) was an inventor, horologist and the most famous magician of his day. His father, a watchmaker, wanted his son to enter the legal profession, but Jean Eugene's passion for horology clearly outweighed his interest in law. After his father’s retirement, his business was taken over by Jean Eugene's cousin, Jean Martin Robert, for whom he went to work. In 1830, Jean Eugene married Josephe Cécile Eglantine Houdin, the daughter of Jacques- Francois Houdin, an eminent horologist and pupil of Breguet. After the marriage, Jean Eugene Robert changed his name to Robert-Houdin. Robert-Houdin invented several new mechanisms and devices, which won for him great acclaim. He won a gold
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2007-05-13
