Antiquorum in Love, Impotant Horology...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 16, 1997

LOT 61

Unsigned, German and Swiss, circa 1880. "Un fauteuil pour deux" Fine gilt brass, singing bird box, with music and concealed erotic automaton scene, in brown leather fitted box.

C. Two body, rectangular, the side panels repousse with cherubs playing with garlands of flowers, the hinged back disclosing the automaton scene; engineturned top panel with bird aperture flanked by two applied garlands. The bird cover painted with a charming enamel pastoral scene featuring a young man gazing at a sleeping shepherdess. Driven by the musical train, the automaton scene shows that playing at musical chairs can have a happy ending. Singing bird movement: rectangular plates with going barrel and rectangular bellow, the bird with moving wings and beak, controlled by two cams mounted beneath the barrel wheel, gilt brass grill engraved with foliage. Musical movement: 65 mm. pin cylinder controlled by a fly regulator a comb with 36 teeth, also driving the automaton movements by means of cams and levers. Dim. 100 x 82 x 50 mm.