Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 24, 1999

LOT 620

Nicolaus Schmidt der Junger, (Augsburg), circa 1620. Fine and almost certainly unique gilt bronze automaton pre-balance spring table watch designed as a skull, which opens and closes its mouth automatically while automaton serpents come out and go back into each eye-socket, alternatively.

CHF 100,000 - 120,000

C. Designed as a skull set on two crossed shinbones and mounted on a gilt brass tripod, the hinged skull cap (restored) disclosing the dial. Later hexagonal ebony moulded base. D. Silver champleve enamelled dial with floral decoration. Gilt brass single hand. M. Hinged oval gilt brass full plate with urn pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel twoarm balance without spring, gilt brass pierced and engraved irregular cock secured by a screw with matching click for the ratchet wheel set-up. The movements of the automaton jaw and the serpents in the eyes are con troled by two six spoke cams driven by the fusee and revolving twenty times an hour, so that the mouth takes three minutes to open and then closes suddenly while the serpents pop-out and return back into each eye-socket alternately, twice a minute. Height 14 cm., including the base. Signed on the back plate.


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Grading System
Case: 3

Good
Movement: *4

Fair

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Although the movements of these automata are far slower than usual, being driven by the fusee of the going train, they are highly impressive because they deeply alter the facial appearance of the skull. Silently, the expression of the face i mperceptibly changes, as if by magic. In the first minute, the skull seems to smile, then, progressively, during the second minute, it seems to laugh; it then appears to yawn, just before the mouth suddenly closes as if it were trying to bite. During the same time, one of the serpents slowly sinks into one of the eyesockets, while the other slowly comes out of the other eye, just before retracting suddenly as the first serpent springs out from its own eye-socket. Provenance Previously in the collection of Charles Georgi, one of the commissioners in charge of the Muse(' retro.specti/ he la classe 96- horlogerie at the Exposition Universe/le he Paris 1900, this watch was exhibited in the showcase dedicated to this celebrated Collection. According to Mathieu Planchon, the author of the catalogue, beside his collection of early watches and table clocks, Charles Georgi owned at the time one of the best Cabinet he Curiosite', which helped the organisors to fill most of the gaps in the various classes of the Musee retrospectif Mr. Georgi was in fact the main supplier of the exhibition.