Contemporary, Limited Edition and Col...

New York, Grand Havana Room, Dec 01, 1999

LOT 297

Gerald GentaTasmanian Devil Automaton's, Only One Piece Produced, by Special Request, 1990's.The cartoon figure of the Tasmanian Devil in the process of destroying the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben, standing on a platform of mother-of-pearl and abalone marquetry supported by a mother-of-pearl tiled, rectangular-shaped base with a beveled edge of lapis lazuli and a grillwork of woven 18K yellow gold at the front and back. The figure of the Tasmanian Devil stands at the center of the platform behind the broken top of Big Ben, which is in 18K yellow gold with mother-of-pearl clockfaces and "Ta" is fabricated from 18K yellow gold with eyebrows, nose and eyes of black onyx, 18K white gold teeth and a coral tongue; the figure's arms and legs have been oxidized and engraved to represent hair. In his right hand "Taz" is holding a small octagonal case clock with a pave-set, diamond bezel and mother-of-pearl dial, in his left hand, is the top of the Eiffel tower, which has been torn from the base which stands to his left. On his right is another clocktower with a central pyramid of crystaln a framework of ornately pierced 18K gold. An electric eye turns on the automaton, which moves its arms up and down, wags it's tail and opens and closes it's mouth as if taking a bite out of the clock in its hand. The piece measures approx. 13 x 8 x 9 inches (33 x 20 x 23 cm.) and is powered by an electrical transformer.Accompanied by fitted leather carrying case