PROBABLY BY HENRI MAILLARDET, GENEVA, CIRCA 1800/1810

Details

A RARE AND IMPORTANT SWISS SPLIT-PEARL SET AND ENAMELLED GOLD LIZARD AUTOMATON
probably by Henri Maillardet, Geneva, circa 1800/1810
Realistically shaped lizard gold automaton, the engraved gold body enamelled in black and green with scales applied with split-pearls, white-enamelled eyes with green jewel set irises, the hinged lower part of the jaw with tongue opening to reveal a secret compartment, the articulated four gold legs studded with split-pearls, the paws of gold wire and the long tail of gold mesh, the belly of gold engraved with a diaper pattern showing three wheels and a key hole, a lever at the side; with a key
7 1/8 in. (190 mm.) long

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Christie's, Geneva, 13-14 May 1986, lot 526.
With S. J. Phillips Ltd., London, 1997, acquired by
Dr Anton C. R. Dreesmann (inventory no. F-224).

Literature

Weltkunst, no. 8, 15 April 1986, illustrated in colour p. 1179.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

This is probably the lizard from the Franck Collection described by A. Chapuis/E. Droz (Automata, Neuchâtel/London, 1958, p. 243) as 'covered in pearls'.
Lizard automata appear to be extremely rare; Chapuis/Droz (op. cit., p. 242, fig. 293) only record one other, rather different specimen, from the Ikle collection, St Gall.

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