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Lot Essay
This spectacular unique electro-mechanical ‘Grand Opera’ musical automaton table clock is a tour-de-force of the finest craftsmanship designed to create a display worthy of impressing His Late Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman for the 50th anniversary of his reign.
Taking master craftsmen a remarkable year and a half to make, the extraordinary case is made of solid silver-gilt, the dome is set with hand-sculpted panels of aventurine, rubellite and mother of pearl in tribute to Oman’s national colours. Celebrating the talents of the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, the arcaded gallery below the time and other displays has 30 rotating windows, when the automaton is activated, the windows rotate to reveal silver-gilt hand-painted three-dimensional models of musicians. Each member of the orchestra holds his instrument while being illuminated. By means of the remote control, the background music starts playing and the pierced silver-gilt diamond and ruby-set front doors slowly open to reveal a hand-painted bas-relief of the Royal Opera House in Muscat and the arches fountain. A light illuminates the whole scene while the upper 30 windows rotate to reveal the orchestra players, the musical ensemble in the centre of the clock then starts to turn. While the entire ensemble turns, each instrument revolves on its axis. The ensemble is composed of a trombone, a clarinet, a harp, a violin, a horn and a flute. The time display is accompanied by displays for an astrolabe, 24-hours and world time, perpetual calendar, thermometer and hygrometer.
The Royal Opera House Muscat was not just an iconic national project, but it was also the first opera house in the Gulf region. Considered by many as a bold step when the project was launched under the auspices of the His Late Majesty, himself a keen opera lover who spared no effort to realize this historic project, reflecting His Majesty’s vision and deep personal interest in culture, heritage, art, history and knowledge.
Presented here for the first time at auction, this breathtaking unique creation of true magnificence has indeed a presence worthy of the most exalted of collectors.
Taking master craftsmen a remarkable year and a half to make, the extraordinary case is made of solid silver-gilt, the dome is set with hand-sculpted panels of aventurine, rubellite and mother of pearl in tribute to Oman’s national colours. Celebrating the talents of the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, the arcaded gallery below the time and other displays has 30 rotating windows, when the automaton is activated, the windows rotate to reveal silver-gilt hand-painted three-dimensional models of musicians. Each member of the orchestra holds his instrument while being illuminated. By means of the remote control, the background music starts playing and the pierced silver-gilt diamond and ruby-set front doors slowly open to reveal a hand-painted bas-relief of the Royal Opera House in Muscat and the arches fountain. A light illuminates the whole scene while the upper 30 windows rotate to reveal the orchestra players, the musical ensemble in the centre of the clock then starts to turn. While the entire ensemble turns, each instrument revolves on its axis. The ensemble is composed of a trombone, a clarinet, a harp, a violin, a horn and a flute. The time display is accompanied by displays for an astrolabe, 24-hours and world time, perpetual calendar, thermometer and hygrometer.
The Royal Opera House Muscat was not just an iconic national project, but it was also the first opera house in the Gulf region. Considered by many as a bold step when the project was launched under the auspices of the His Late Majesty, himself a keen opera lover who spared no effort to realize this historic project, reflecting His Majesty’s vision and deep personal interest in culture, heritage, art, history and knowledge.
Presented here for the first time at auction, this breathtaking unique creation of true magnificence has indeed a presence worthy of the most exalted of collectors.