The Private Collection of Theodor Beyer

Hotel Baur Au Lac, Zurich, Nov 16, 2003

LOT 157

Carosse Mécanique. Unsigned, probably French, second half of the 18th century. Fine and extremely rare gilt brass animated carriage, accompanied by fitted wooden box.

CHF 10,000 - 12,000

EUR 6,500 - 12,000 / USD 7,400 - 9,000

C. Animated gilt carriage drawn by two horses, hinged door on each side pierced with floral decoration, silk panels, carriage suspended, hanging on spring suspensions from four leather straps, gilt brass servant on a stand behind holding the straps stabilizing the carriage on bumpy roads, skeletonized gilt brass wheels with floral decorations, front with coachman on a seat mounted over the movement housing, holding the reins for two brown horses, stop lever protruding from the movement housing. M. Gilt brass plates, going barrel, 5-wheel train, friction-fit fly governor, rear wheels fitted to the second, the movement to the horses and coach transmitted via a set of levers activated by pins on the second wheel.Dim. length 250 mm, width 40 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-21

Good

Period
Movement: 3

Good

Notes

This type of automaton is extremely rare; the present piece appears to be the first ever to appear at auction. One slightly larger is in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. The first mention of an automaton referred to as a "carosse mécanique" appears in the "Traité des Forces mouvantes pour la pratique des arts et des métiers" Paris 1722 by François-Joseph de Camus. The piece described as "a small carriage going alone or by means of a spring", was presented to King Louis XIV. Eleven years later, in 1733, a certain Maillard presented to the French "Académie des Sciences" an animated carriage with three figures see Machines et Inventions approuvées par l'Academie Royale des Sciences, Gallon, 1733. This appears to be the last mention of animated coaches in the literature.The present automaton is a lovely little "carosse mécanique" fitted with a very well designed mechanism that transmits very realistic movements to the horses, the coachman, and the carriage.