ANON. A MAGNIFICENT GEORGE III ORMOLU, AGATE AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AUTOMATON, MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET

UNSIGNED, NO. 11, CIRCA 1790

Details

ANON. A MAGNIFICENT GEORGE III ORMOLU, AGATE AND PASTE-SET MUSICAL AUTOMATON, MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET
Unsigned, No. 11, circa 1790

With musical chain fusée movement playing six fine tunes on eight bells via eight hammers and pin cylinder, the case supported on finely cast elephants and volute scroll cast with grotesque masks, the rectangular case set to each side with six agate panels within foliate cast ormolu frame and surmounted by foliate cast urn finials, the front with three paste-set knobs for tune selection, manual trip for the tune and winding shutter, the automaton casing above resting on ball and dragon feet and with two agate panels to each side and centred in the front with a glazed automaton feature with a central paste-set revolving rosette within eight further paste-set rosettes, the top surmounted by two Oriental gentlemen, their arms conjoined to support a heart-shaped foliate watch stand
410 mm. high

Sale room notice

Please note that Lot 1288, the musical automaton, and Lot 1288A, the pair case automaton watch, are illustrated together but will be sold separately.

Lot Essay

US$60,000-80,000

For a similar musical automaton, see Timepieces Collected by Qing Dynasty Emperors in the Palace Museum, p. 101.

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