Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 18, 1998

LOT 138

Attributable to the workshop of Jaquet Droz or that of Henry Maillardet, circa 1780. Fine and rare full-size gilt-metal singing bird clock with two birds and double fountain.

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

Sold: CHF 179,500

C. Octagonal gilt bronze, gilt bronze urns on the canted corners flanked by fluted pilasters to the apex of each angle, with turned columns above terminating in flambeau urn finials; tortoiseshell veneered side panels with applied gilt-bronze floral decoration and ribbon foliage. Wirework above and ring suspension. D. Bombe white enamel, mounted below, with Breguet numerals regulator index. Engraved and gilt Louis XV hands with blued-steel centre-seconds. M. Mounted in the base below a silkcovered brass fret-work panel, the small clock movement with dead-beat verge escapement, the birdsong train with fusee and chain, rectangular section bellows and pin-drum for the 10 tin pipes, playing 6 different tunes, released after the stiking of the hour, or at-will by a pull-cord. Birds decorated with natural feathers, moving the body, head, beak, wings and tail. Double fountain of revolving twisted glass rods. Dim. 43 x 27 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 4

Fair
Movement: 4

Fair
Dial: 22-54

Later original

Service dial

Notes

Although very rare, examples of a full size bird cage by jaquet- Droz & Leschot are illustrated in all the major works on automata. Examples are also to be found in the Peking Palace Collection and the Topkapi Museum, Istanbul. The bird mechanism is in fact a form of serincttc. Jaquet-Droz From 1752 to 1784, Pierre Jaquet-Droz was the firm of Pierre Jaquet-Droz (1721-1790), and when he became old, he was succeeded by his son Henri (1752-1791), and Jean Frederic Leschot (1746-1824?), his adopted son, under the name of Jaquet-Droz & Leschot. This company moved from La Chauds de Fonds to Geneva. Born in La Chauds de Fonds, Pierre Jaquet-Droz studied mathematics and theology, and then became interested in horology. IIe sent his son, Henri, to Nancy, France, to study mathematics, physics, music and drafting. When his son had returned from his studies and joined the firm, they made automata which became famous all over Europe. Pierre Jaquet-Droz was the first to make singing bird boxes. Soon, the firm Pierre Jaquet-Droz had a solid reputation for complicated clocks, Neuchatel clocks and as an automata maker. Jaquet-Droz & Leschot introduced to Geneva complicated horology which combined in one timepiece, music, scenery and art. One of the firm's principal activities from Geneva was the export of luxury and unusual complicated watches, the production of singing mechanical birds, while the production of clocks was in Neuchatel. These items were sold namely in England, and indirectly in the East and in the Far East. In order to simplify the selling of such works to these markets, they maintained their London branch, which had been opened in 1775 and was managed by one of their best workers Henri Maillardet, with a new association in 1783 which he continued to manage. Through his workshop in London, Henry Maillardet used to supply magnificent watches made by this eminent maker to Cox and Beale, the successors of J. Cox & Son in Canton, the famous dealers of luxury watches matte for the Chinese Market. Signatures of Henry-Louis Jaquet-Droz, James Cox and Henry Maillardet on a contract elate 1783 (A. Chapuis - E. Jaquet 77ae History of the self-winding watch. p. 160). Although unsigned or bearing the signature of Henry Maillardet or other makers, several watches were in fact produced in the workshop of Pierre Jaquet Droz. Pierre Jaquet-Droz died in Bienne, Switzerland, in 1790 and Henri Jaquet-Droz in Naples, Italy, in 1791. At that time, Jean Frederic Leschot took over the firm.