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Lot Essay
Automatons of this diminutive size are extremely rare, however, musical automatons of this size are exceptionally rare indeed. Recently discovered and completely untouched for many years, this exquisite jewelled musical and automaton pendant has to the best of our knowledge never been offered at auction or published before, it therefore represents an exciting, not to mention extremely beautiful new addition to the surviving examples of the work of the Geneva goldsmiths and mechanicians. Furthermore, it is the only known example of its type from this period made in the form of a padlock.
The case is lavishly set with old-cut diamonds in silver settings, the correct technique for the period, in addition, the activation mechanism for the music and automaton is very ingenious: the loop of the “padlock” is hinged on the right-hand side so that the sprung left-hand side can be pulled slightly upwards, which in turn presses a lever inside on the movement that activates the mechanism. This system eliminates the need for an external activation button or slide so as not to disturb the line of the case. The back is equally beautifully decorated being overlaid with purple enamel mounted with rose-cut diamonds in silver and a pearl border.
Attributable stylistically to Piguet and Capt, the most important Geneva makers of complicated small automata and watches in the early 19th century, the present musical automaton movement is impressively small, almost miniaturized, a feat that required exceptional skill to achieve.
The scene “Cupid’s forge of love” depicting two Cupid’s forging and sharpening their arrows was a popular one in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, combining as it does both classicism and love, the perfect gift for a lady. Variations of the scene can be found, albeit of much larger size, on a handful of other known Geneva automaton watches. The full scene includes a third Cupid operating the bellows for the forge, however, in the present automaton, because of its very small size, the two Cupid’s are depicted in isolation, it can be compared to a fine sealing wax case with similar but slightly larger automaton sold by Christie’s Hong Kong, 28th November 2012, lot 2642.
The closest overall comparison is with two related pieces, both also attributed to Piguet & Capt and once part of the legendary collection of King Farouk of Egypt sold by Sotheby & Co., The Palace Collections of Egypt, Cairo, 10th March 1954, lots 521 (musical) and 523 (automaton only). Both these (slightly larger) pieces have similar shield shaped dials and movements to the present automaton and appear to be from the same workshop but are mounted in much plainer shield-shaped cases with enamel and pearl decoration respectively.
Still possessing the power to enchant more than 200 years after it was made, the present automaton is both a superb jewel and a mechanical marvel and would make a worthy addition to even the most exalted collection.
Isaac Daniel Piguet (1775-1841) and Henry Capt (1773-1837), were important watchmakers, goldsmiths and jewellers who worked in partnership from 1802 to1811 specializing in the making of musical and automaton watches. Henri Capt was one of the first in Geneva to use the pinned cylinder and tuned-tooth comb musical mechanism. Examples of their work grace some of the world’s greatest collections, including the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva.
For watches with similar but larger automatons depicting “Cupid’s forge of love” see: Watches & Automata, The Maurice Sandoz Collection, p.126, and Le Monde des Automates, Chapuis et Gélis, 1927, p. 38-39.
The case is lavishly set with old-cut diamonds in silver settings, the correct technique for the period, in addition, the activation mechanism for the music and automaton is very ingenious: the loop of the “padlock” is hinged on the right-hand side so that the sprung left-hand side can be pulled slightly upwards, which in turn presses a lever inside on the movement that activates the mechanism. This system eliminates the need for an external activation button or slide so as not to disturb the line of the case. The back is equally beautifully decorated being overlaid with purple enamel mounted with rose-cut diamonds in silver and a pearl border.
Attributable stylistically to Piguet and Capt, the most important Geneva makers of complicated small automata and watches in the early 19th century, the present musical automaton movement is impressively small, almost miniaturized, a feat that required exceptional skill to achieve.
The scene “Cupid’s forge of love” depicting two Cupid’s forging and sharpening their arrows was a popular one in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, combining as it does both classicism and love, the perfect gift for a lady. Variations of the scene can be found, albeit of much larger size, on a handful of other known Geneva automaton watches. The full scene includes a third Cupid operating the bellows for the forge, however, in the present automaton, because of its very small size, the two Cupid’s are depicted in isolation, it can be compared to a fine sealing wax case with similar but slightly larger automaton sold by Christie’s Hong Kong, 28th November 2012, lot 2642.
The closest overall comparison is with two related pieces, both also attributed to Piguet & Capt and once part of the legendary collection of King Farouk of Egypt sold by Sotheby & Co., The Palace Collections of Egypt, Cairo, 10th March 1954, lots 521 (musical) and 523 (automaton only). Both these (slightly larger) pieces have similar shield shaped dials and movements to the present automaton and appear to be from the same workshop but are mounted in much plainer shield-shaped cases with enamel and pearl decoration respectively.
Still possessing the power to enchant more than 200 years after it was made, the present automaton is both a superb jewel and a mechanical marvel and would make a worthy addition to even the most exalted collection.
Isaac Daniel Piguet (1775-1841) and Henry Capt (1773-1837), were important watchmakers, goldsmiths and jewellers who worked in partnership from 1802 to1811 specializing in the making of musical and automaton watches. Henri Capt was one of the first in Geneva to use the pinned cylinder and tuned-tooth comb musical mechanism. Examples of their work grace some of the world’s greatest collections, including the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva.
For watches with similar but larger automatons depicting “Cupid’s forge of love” see: Watches & Automata, The Maurice Sandoz Collection, p.126, and Le Monde des Automates, Chapuis et Gélis, 1927, p. 38-39.