This piece was sold by Antiquorum in the "Art of Horology in Geneva" sale, November 13-14, 1999, lot 94. This box is remarkable for a number of reasons. The mechanism is most unusual and employs some features not found in other "Concert" mechanisms; the entire automaton is controlled by a single wheel driven from the pinned drum and making one revolution per tune. This ensures the perfect synchronization of the figures? movements and the music. The tune is made to last for two rotations of the drum by means of a cam which shifts the drum?s position in the middle of the tune. Although not unknown, this disposition is generally found in later large music boxes. The most unusual feature of the automaton is the applause which occurs at the end of the tune: first, an ingenious mechanism causes the people in the audience to raise their hands. Then, a rack-type mechanism takes over, making them bring their hands together as if clapping, through a system of levers. When they have finished clapping, the dulcimer player bows her head. The hand clapping as well as the bowing movement can be controlled at will via two levers; the bowing at the top of the drawing room panel, the applause at the top of the back panel. We know of no other small automaton with this fea-ture. Usually, to change the function of an animated figure, makers such as Jaquet Droz employed cams governing the mo-vement, resulting in a rather complicated system. Rojard, instead, employed an idea which he claimed to have invented, by which one function was disengaged and another almost immediately engaged. This control mechanism runs from a single wheel. It requires, however, particular care in repair and adjustment. Aware of this, Rojard warned future repairers in a message scratched on the movement: "faite attention a tous les repéres des roues ou vous ne pourriez la faire fonctionner". He wanted to make them aware that the mechanism was unlike the others they were accustomed to. Antoine Rojard Was most likely the son of Jean-Daniel, a horologist, and was active at the end of the 18th and early 19th centuries. He is known to have produced automata and unusual watches, including ones with thermometers. This box shows that he was extremely talented, both as mechanical designer and a horologist. The Rojard firm continued until the end of the 19th century, and produced among other things repeating watches in the English style. Jean-Georges Rémond Perhaps the best, snuff box maker of his time, he was active from 1783 to 1815-20. He became master goldsmith on December 22, 1783 and struck his first master mark. Seven years later he appears to have formed the company Georges Rémond & Cie., which eventually became, circa 1800, Rémond, Mercier, Lamy & Cie. During the French occupation of Switzerland by Napoleon, J.-G. Rémond recorded marks in accordance with the laws of the newly formed Département of Léman, i.e. his initials within a lozenge. From 1815 to 1820, the firm Lamy, Rémond, Mercier, Daniel Berton, used a similar mark, but no longer enclosed by a lozenge. It seems that Rémond had either retired or died, since in 1820 a new firm, Mercier, Blondel and Berton, was formed. This new company only lasted a further seven years, however, until April 14, 1827. "Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois" by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.