.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Consigned by a descendant of the original owner, this exceptional and exquisite gold cane handle has remained in the same family for over 200 years. Quite possibly a unique piece made to the order of the original owner, no other examples are publically known to exist.
Incorporating a musical movement, watch and automata, it is an object of great beauty and ingenious design. Almost certainly made in Geneva, it is a testament to the quality of the work of the goldsmith and watchmaker in Switzerland at the beginning of the 19th century. Although the signature on the mainspring of the musical movement cannot be deciphered it must have been made by one of the great workshops in Geneva such as Piguet & Capt or Moulinie, Bautte & Cie.
The mainspring is dated 1/1807 and therefore the piece is likely to have been completed around 1810.
This gold parrot’s head automaton watch is unquestionably one of the most fascinating objects to have appeared at auction in recent years, the feathers are extremely finely engraved, each one highlighted with blue champlevé enamel. The construction shows that it was specially designed and made throughout, the plates of the musical movement are shaped to follow the curve of the parrot’s neck and it is wound via a cleverly concealed “shuttered” winding hole in the neck that is opened and closed by tiny sliding button, when the shutter is closed the winding hole is disguised. The top of the head is in fact a hinged cover that springs open via a small catch, when the cover is open it gives the effect that the parrot has raised its crest. Inside is revealed the watch and automaton scene, in classic Geneva style with chased and engraved varicoloured gold figures against a painted enamel landscape background. The automaton has two actions: a blacksmith working at the anvil, his arm raising the hammer and a fountain with rotating glass rod giving the appearance of flowing water. Above, the visible balance wheel is set with rose-cut diamonds over a mirror-polished plate.
Both the musical and the watch and automaton movements have recently been cleaned and put into working order by Raúl Pagès, master watchmaker of Les Brenets, Switzerland.
Incorporating a musical movement, watch and automata, it is an object of great beauty and ingenious design. Almost certainly made in Geneva, it is a testament to the quality of the work of the goldsmith and watchmaker in Switzerland at the beginning of the 19th century. Although the signature on the mainspring of the musical movement cannot be deciphered it must have been made by one of the great workshops in Geneva such as Piguet & Capt or Moulinie, Bautte & Cie.
The mainspring is dated 1/1807 and therefore the piece is likely to have been completed around 1810.
This gold parrot’s head automaton watch is unquestionably one of the most fascinating objects to have appeared at auction in recent years, the feathers are extremely finely engraved, each one highlighted with blue champlevé enamel. The construction shows that it was specially designed and made throughout, the plates of the musical movement are shaped to follow the curve of the parrot’s neck and it is wound via a cleverly concealed “shuttered” winding hole in the neck that is opened and closed by tiny sliding button, when the shutter is closed the winding hole is disguised. The top of the head is in fact a hinged cover that springs open via a small catch, when the cover is open it gives the effect that the parrot has raised its crest. Inside is revealed the watch and automaton scene, in classic Geneva style with chased and engraved varicoloured gold figures against a painted enamel landscape background. The automaton has two actions: a blacksmith working at the anvil, his arm raising the hammer and a fountain with rotating glass rod giving the appearance of flowing water. Above, the visible balance wheel is set with rose-cut diamonds over a mirror-polished plate.
Both the musical and the watch and automaton movements have recently been cleaned and put into working order by Raúl Pagès, master watchmaker of Les Brenets, Switzerland.