109,250 CHF
Nicolaus Schmidt der Junger, (Augsburg), circa 1620. Fine and almost certainly unique gilt bronze automaton pre-balance spring table watch designed as a skull which opens and closes its jaws automatically while automaton snakes alternately come out of and return back into the eye sockets. Designed as a skull set on two crossed shinbones and mounted on a gilt brass tripod, the hinged skull cap (restored) disclosing the dial. Later hexagonal ebony molded base. Silver champlevé enameled dial with floral decoration. Gilt brass single hand. Hinged oval gilt brass full plate with urn pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel two-arm balance without spring, gilt brass pierced and engraved irregular cock secured by a screw, with matching click for the ratchet wheel set-up. The movements of the automaton jaw and the snakes in the eyes are controlled by two six-spoke cams driven by the fusee and revolving twenty times an hour, so that the jaws take three minutes to open and then close suddenly while the snakes alternately pop out of, then return back into, each eye socket, twice a minute.Height 14 cm, including the base.Back plate signed. Notes The present watch was sold by Antiquorum Geneva in April 1999, lot 620. The movements of these automata are far slower than usual, being driven by the fusee of the going train. They are highly impressive because they deeply alter the expression on the skull’s “face”. During the first minute, the skull seems to smile; during
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-11-14
