Sold for:
130,000 CHF

The Mouse. Attributable to the workshop of Piguet et Capt, Geneva, circa 1805, probably retailed by Maillardet. Extremely fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, pearl- and black onyx-set automaton mouse. In the form of a mouse with black onyx eyes, orange enamel mouth and nose, the body entirely inlaid with split pearls, the fur very skillfully simulated with blue and black champlevé enamel, chased gold feet, gold ears and gold wire mesh tail. Notes There are only seven mice like this one known: 1. Sandoz collection (previuosly Bernard Frank Collection, Paris. 2. Sir Lionel David Salomons Collection. 3. Patek Philippe Museum (sold by Antiquorum on April 25, 1999, lot 599. 4. Lot 99 (previously Iklé collection). 5. Lot 100. Similar to the one in the Salomons collection. 6. Patek Philippe Museum (previously Dr. Anton Dreesmann Collection). 7. Asprey Collection. This creature, when activated by the pin at the tail, moves forward so realistically that any cat would want to chase it. Suddenly it stops as if it had found something savory, and begins "eating": moving its head up and down like a real mouse eating a piece of cheese. After the meal, it continues its journey, scuttling along contentedly.We thank Kenneth Goldman for his help in compiling information on collections of these mechanical objets de vertu.


Antiquorum

Auctioneer:
Antiquorum

Date:
2003-10-11

Archived auctions similar to The Mouse Down arrow


Sold for:
$119

American School, Early 20th Century A Calm Day of the Mouse Lightship. Indistinctly signed "P. Bruenley" and dated "1912" l.l., titled on Read more…


Auctioneer:
Skinner

Date:
2009-11-08


Sold for:
$86

Wood Figure of Mickey the Mouse by Performo Toy for George Borgfeldt, with flexible arms, legs, and tail, ht. 5 in. Read more…


Auctioneer:
Skinner

Date:
2001-07-21


Sold for:
$50

Baule Mouse oracle from Ivory Coast with butterfly and fish carvings; measures approximately 13" tall; please consult photographs for condition.Among the Guro, Baule, and Yaure Read more…


Auctioneer:
Bremoauctions

Date:
2016-10-22


Sold for:
$356

Miniature Cold Painted Bronze Figure of a Mouse on Ivory Base, late 19th/early 20th century, the mouse modeled seated on its haunches, set atop a Read more…


Auctioneer:
Skinner

Date:
2012-01-14


Sold for:
$16,250

Idar-Oberstein, Germany, a clear illustration of his tremendous skill, this work is humorous yet utterly realistic in its attention to detail, a single crystal of Read more…


Auctioneer:
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Date:
2014-09-16


Sold for:
194,900 CHF

Attributable to the workshop of Henri Maillardet, Jaquet-Droz partner in Geneva, circa 1810. Extremely fine and rare 18K gold and enamel pearlset automaton mouse, in Read more…


Auctioneer:
Antiquorum

Date:
1999-04-24


Sold for:
$480

18kt Gold Gem-set Cat and Mouse Brooch, the cat with diamond melee eyes, the mouse with ruby melee eyes, 9.0 dwt, lg. 1 1/4 in., Read more…


Auctioneer:
Skinner

Date:
2013-06-11


Sold for:
$770

14kt Gold Gem-set Mouse Ring, the mouse in pavé-set ruby melee with circular-cut green garnet eyes, on an abstract textured mount, 6.9 dwt, size 7 Read more…


Auctioneer:
Skinner

Date:
2012-03-13


Sold for:
$1,998

Painted Cast-Iron Mouse Doorstop, America, early 20th century, depicting the mouse on a wedge of cheese, ht. 2 1/4, wd. 1 1/2, lg. 5 7/8 Read more…


Auctioneer:
Skinner

Date:
2006-11-04


Sold for:
$210

Smith, Robert, Rat-catcher. The Universal Directory for Taking Alive and Destroying Rats and other Kinds of Four-Footed and Winged Vermin . London: Printed for Read more…


Auctioneer:
Skinner

Date:
2012-11-18