Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 99

The Siberian Mouse. Attributable to the workshop of Piguet et Capt, circa 1805, probably retailed by Maillardet. Extremely fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, pearl- and ruby-set automaton mouse.

C. In the form of a mouse with ruby eyes, red enamel mouth and nose, the body entirely inlaid with oval split pearls, the fur very skillfully simulated with white champlevé enamel, chased gold feet, fine gold wire eyebrows and whiskers, gold ears and gold wire mesh tail. M. Brass, shaped, with fixed barrel, the 5-wheel train terminating with a pinion pivoted in eccentric adjustable bushing for regulating the mouse's speed. The mainspring barrel is milled with four cams; one moves two levers up and down giving a very realistic motion to the animal's feet, the mouse moves via two small knurled steel wheels mounted on a pinion driven by the second wheel, two other cams at one point lift two levers protruding from the stomach which lifts the mouse and stops her, the last cam controls the head movement.Dim. Length 57 mm (130 with the tail), 25 mm thick at mid-body.