Details
SWISS. A VERY RARE MUSICAL MAGICIAN AUTOMATON ENCASED IN A NUT
UNSIGNED, CIRCA 1810
The gilt brass pin barrel movement with eight individual steel tuned teeth.
The unusual automaton scene encased entirely within an original walnut shell, the scene depicting a gold and enamel basket of flowers, a white enamel dial numbered from 0 - 7, between stands a figure of a fortune-teller holding a wand in his right hand and a book in his left hand. When the music is activated by the means of a lever near the hinge of the case, and number chosen on the dial, the fortune-teller waves his wand, lifts his book and turns towards the basket of flowers, the hinged lid of the basket then opens and reveals the answered motto, the music will eventually cease and the spectacle is over. The answers revealed are "Pas trop" (not too much), "La Vertu" (virtue), "La Sagesse" (wisdom), "L'Argent" (money), "Cupidon" (cupid) and "Le Temps" (time). Originally the automaton had a small case which contained a list of the seven questions corresponding to the indexes on the dial, with original red leather protective travelling box.
50 mm. x 45 mm.
UNSIGNED, CIRCA 1810
The gilt brass pin barrel movement with eight individual steel tuned teeth.
The unusual automaton scene encased entirely within an original walnut shell, the scene depicting a gold and enamel basket of flowers, a white enamel dial numbered from 0 - 7, between stands a figure of a fortune-teller holding a wand in his right hand and a book in his left hand. When the music is activated by the means of a lever near the hinge of the case, and number chosen on the dial, the fortune-teller waves his wand, lifts his book and turns towards the basket of flowers, the hinged lid of the basket then opens and reveals the answered motto, the music will eventually cease and the spectacle is over. The answers revealed are "Pas trop" (not too much), "La Vertu" (virtue), "La Sagesse" (wisdom), "L'Argent" (money), "Cupidon" (cupid) and "Le Temps" (time). Originally the automaton had a small case which contained a list of the seven questions corresponding to the indexes on the dial, with original red leather protective travelling box.
50 mm. x 45 mm.
Provenance
Formerly in the Sir David Salomons collection, London
Literature
Le Monde des Automates, vol II, Alfred Chapuis et Edouard Gelis, p. 174