拍品 6
6
Jean-Eugène Robert Houdin, Paris A Napoleon III ormolu, crystal and ebonised grande pendule mysterieuse. Circa 1850
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… 顯示更多 Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin was a magician extraordinaire, a scientist, an inventor as well as a mechanical and horological genius. The third child of a Blois watchmaker Robert learned his trade in his father's workshop 'I am inclined to believe that I came into the world with a file or a hammer in my hand, for from my earliest youth, these implements were my toys and delight: I seemed to use them as other children learned to walk and talk.' He created exciting automaton devices the like of which no one had seen before including mystery clocks that appeared to work by magic. He was famous around the world as France's most eminent magician and is regarded by modern-day conjurers as one of the founders of modern conjuring. Creating imaginative optical illusions and conjuring tricks using sleight of hand, Robert-Houdin combined his magical genius with his huge personality on stage using style and wit to capture his audiences' imaginations. These audiences often included the finest members of Society and even Royalty including Queen Victoria and Napoleon III. Christened Jean Eugène Robert he married Josèphe Cécile Eglatine Houdin in July 1830 and added his wife's suname to his own. His new father-in-law was Jacques Houdin, one of France's finest makers of chronometers, regulators and astronomical clocks. His inventing flourished and in the Exhibition of French Industry in 1839 he showed a mystery clock that caused a sensation then later in the 1844 Exhibition he won the Gold Medal. His most famous automaton was the model of a man sitting at a desk that was abloe to write and draw, it was greatly admired by King Louis Philippe and then bought for the huge sum of $4,000 by the Great Barnum for his American Museum. His Soirées Fantastiques at the Palais Royal were packed performances with the best of Paris Society bringing him fame and fortune. The Magic Clock (illus) was suspended by two thin cords with a glass bell below. At Robert-Houdin's command the hand moved back or forth to any number a member of the audience might suggest and the bell would then sound out the relative hour - either loud or soft - as requested. This feat was achieved using electricity, a subject that fascinated him for years and which lead to a close association with the eminent clockmaker Constantin Louis Detouche with whom he patented an ingenious electro-mechanical escapement (see following lot). One hundred years ago Robert-Houdin was a household name and his fame stretched far across the globe. Rue Robert-Houdin can still be found in both Paris and Blois but today his namesake Houdini is remembered - yet it was Harry Houdini, born Ehrich Weiss, who changed his name in emulation of his hero Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin.
Jean-Eugène Robert Houdin, Paris A Napoleon III ormolu, crystal and ebonised grande pendule mysterieuse. Circa 1850

細節
Jean-Eugène Robert Houdin, Paris

A Napoleon III ormolu, crystal and ebonised grande pendule mysterieuse. Circa 1850
The oval brass line-inlaid ebonised base housing the movement with four pillars and long rectangular brass plates, the backplate signed Robert Houdin Rue de Vendôme A Paris and further stamped on the backplate H. L., twin going barrels, the going with platform cylinder escapement and the strike with countwheel on a bell, the drive from the going train third wheel to a contrate wheel on the backplate with indirect bevel gear to the base of the glass stem driving an inner glass tube with connection at the dial stem with another indirect bevel gear driving an inner glass disc behind the main dial with Roman chapters and ormolu arrow hands, the dial frame engraved with scrolling foliage and held by twin foliate arms on a socle base, the crystal shaft with ormolu beaded collars and supported on an elaborate ormolu base with four ormolu addorsed dragons on a further foliate cast ormolu plinth with cherub head foliate feet on a maroon velvet-lined oval plinth; with glass dome
24 in. (61 cm.) high
出版
Derek Roberts, Mystery, Novelty & Fantasy clocks, Schiffer, 1999, pp.219-232
注意事項
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

拍品專文

The present clock represents the biggest and grandest style of Pendule Mysterieuse made by Robert Houdin. Its ormolu base is of considerably better quality and more elaborate than his smaller and more prolific models. The latter have only a single hour hand and usually only timepiece movements.

Robert Houdin designed a vertical clear glass column formed of two glass tubes, an outer stationary tube supporting the dial and an inner rotating glass tube providing drive. It engages with a delicate and thin wheel concealed by the dial surround which is cemented to the edge of a circular and very thin glass plate and thus revolves with it whilst a further stationary plate in front displays the numerals.

Robert Houdin's glass mystery clocks are exceptionlly rare, far rarer in fact than the wonderful mystery clocks of the 1920s and 30s made by Cartier which owe much of their creation and innovation to the genius who was the great inventor, magician and impressario Jean Eugène Robert Houdin.