.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present clock is the biggest and grandest pendule mysterieuse made by Robert-Houdin. Its ormolu base is considerably better quality and more elaborate than his smaller and more prolific models which have only a single hour hand and are usually only timepiece movements.
Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin was born in Blois in 1805 and died in 1871. He is recorded as leaving for Paris in 1830 (presumably after his apprenticeship), and began to construct and invent clocks and complicated automata, he was also a world-renowned magician. He entered pieces in exhibitions in 1839, 1844 and 1855 and received bronze, silver and gold medals. In 1845 he opened La Salle des Soirées Fantastique in Palais Royal and exhibited all kinds of unusual automata and clocks. According to Chapuis & Droz, Automata, Neuchatel, 1958, p. 309; At the foot of an original poster advertising the Soirées Fantastiques of Houdin, 'Doctor and Mechanicien', the following occurs, 'M. Robert-Houdin undertakes the repair of all kinds of automata and complicated mechanical pieces'.
Robert-Houdin was obviously an extraordinary character and showman and in a curious way this dememour can be seen from his countenance and expression in the portrait. For the 1844 exhibition he presented an automaton of a man in period dress seated on an elaborate chair and actually writing with pen and paper. This clock was apparently bought in the exhibition by the great circus impressario Barnum. In addition to all these achievements he also experimented with electricity with the clockmaker Constantin Louis Detouche with whom he jointly produced a small number of exceptional quality clocks (see Christie's, London, 12 June, 1996, lot 297) based on their initial patent issued in 1855 which was one of the earliest French electrical horological patents to be issued.
c.f. lot 398; a mahogany pendulum wall clock with Detouche & Robert Houdin electrical contact system.
Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin was born in Blois in 1805 and died in 1871. He is recorded as leaving for Paris in 1830 (presumably after his apprenticeship), and began to construct and invent clocks and complicated automata, he was also a world-renowned magician. He entered pieces in exhibitions in 1839, 1844 and 1855 and received bronze, silver and gold medals. In 1845 he opened La Salle des Soirées Fantastique in Palais Royal and exhibited all kinds of unusual automata and clocks. According to Chapuis & Droz, Automata, Neuchatel, 1958, p. 309; At the foot of an original poster advertising the Soirées Fantastiques of Houdin, 'Doctor and Mechanicien', the following occurs, 'M. Robert-Houdin undertakes the repair of all kinds of automata and complicated mechanical pieces'.
Robert-Houdin was obviously an extraordinary character and showman and in a curious way this dememour can be seen from his countenance and expression in the portrait. For the 1844 exhibition he presented an automaton of a man in period dress seated on an elaborate chair and actually writing with pen and paper. This clock was apparently bought in the exhibition by the great circus impressario Barnum. In addition to all these achievements he also experimented with electricity with the clockmaker Constantin Louis Detouche with whom he jointly produced a small number of exceptional quality clocks (see Christie's, London, 12 June, 1996, lot 297) based on their initial patent issued in 1855 which was one of the earliest French electrical horological patents to be issued.
c.f. lot 398; a mahogany pendulum wall clock with Detouche & Robert Houdin electrical contact system.