Contemporary Limited Edition and Mode...

New York, Grand Havana Room, Sep 28, 2000

LOT 136

Jaquet-Droz, 1998.Very fine and rare, gilt brass singing bird clock with one bird.

C. octagonal gilt brass, enamel side panels with alternating gilt brass triumphal crests and gilt brass framed enameled medallion paintings; the paintings depict a peasant boy and his dog, a peasant girl and her cat, a peasant girl and her doves and a peasant boy fishing, flanked by fluted pilasters on the apex of each angle, with turned columns above terminating in flambeau urn finials; wirework cage and ring suspension. D. bombé white enamel, mounted below, with black painted Roman numerals anouter Arabic numeral minute ring. 'Louis XV' engraved and gilt brass hands. M. The clock mechanical movement is mounted in the base under a brass fret-work panel. The automaton mechanics, capable of six different tunes,consists of fusee and steel cable, rectangular section bellows and pin-drum for ten pipes. The bird will sing after the striking of the hour or when activated by pulling a cord. The bird is decorated with natural feathers and when activated moves its body, head, beak and tail. Thbird's sound is similar to that of a music box or an organ grinder's hurdy-gurdy. The French word for this instrument is a serinette.Dial and movement signed.Dim. 49 x 28 cm.