Contemporary Limited Edition and Mode...

New York, Grand Havana Room, Sep 28, 2000

LOT 134

Jaquet-Droz, 'The Writer'.Automaton, One of Three Pieces Produced, 1997.

C. Depicting Pierre Jaquet-Droz sitting at a writing table. The figure is entirely mechanical, activated by a winding key. Once wound, Jaquet-Droz's head follows his quill pen as he writes 'I Love You'. His right hand holds the pen as his left hand is lowered to hold the paper. His eyelids are raised and lowered with each movement. The winding key allows the figure to perform 10 repetitions.The figure of Jaquet-Droz is wearing period dress: a royal blue velvet coat over a light blue waist coat with brassbuttons, all over a white shirt with a ruffled collar and cuffs, stockings and colonial black shoes with a brass buckle. He is holding a brass quill feather pen in one hand. He is sitting on a black lacquered stool and leaning over a black lacquered writing table with a scalloped edge and cabriolet legs, the top inset with burgundy leather. The table and stool rest on a wood base with a parquet-like wood floor inset. The base and automaton measure 19 1/2 inches long, 11 3/4 inches wide and 19 inhes high.This exceptional automaton is constructed of 1,000 minute components, with the mechanism of the automaton taking place in the body of Jaquet-Droz.