291,750 CHF
EXCEPTIONAL EARLY & SMALL SINGING BIRD CAGE CLOCK WITH AUTOMATON JUMPING BIRD & AUTOMATON WATERFALL Attributable to Jaquet-Droz et Leschot, Geneva, "oiseau chantant et sautant de perche en perche", the metalwork attributable to Frères Billon, the movement to Henri Maillardet. Made circa 1785. Exceptional, extremely fine, rare and diminutive, gilded-brass, automaton singing bird table clock with "jumping" early-type painted bird with automated beak, wings and tail and automaton waterfall activated at will and by the clock every three hours. Octagonal, gilded brass, the domed top with urn finial, four pierced and finely engraved panels each centered by a caduceus in an oval and surrounded by scrolls, the corners with pierced and engraved scroll panels, the four side panels pierced and finely engraved with the sun in splendor in the center surrounded by lightning bolts and flames, the corners with pierced and engraved husk scrolls, eight outset pillars with urn finials, the interior floor of the case with pierced and engraved panels of stylized water plants and a large fish in each corner, central automaton waterfall with rotating glass rods on a gilt-bronze shell base and cast and chased domed leaf cap, octagonal base with radiating oval engine-turned panels, finely cast and chased ball and claw feet, winding arbor and activation/stop lever in the side of the base. White enamel with Arabic numerals, outer minute track, movement regulation sector and hand above 6 o'clock
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2008-11-09
