74,500 CHF
Nicolaus Schmidt Skull and Crossbones Automaton Table Watch Nicolaus Schmidt der Junger (Augsburg). Made circa 1620. Extremely fine and almost certainly unique, “memento mori”, gilt bronze, automaton, pre balance-spring, single-hand table watch designed as a skull which opens and closes its jaws automatically while automaton snakes move in and out of the eye sockets. Designed as a skull set on two crossed shinbones and mounted on a gilt brass tripod, the hinged skull cap (restored) opening to reveal the dial. Later hexagonal ebony molded base. Silver polychrome champlevé enameled dial with floral decoration, radial Roman numerals. Blued steel tulip hand. Hinged oval gilt brass full plate with baluster 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. Movement signed. Height 14 cm, including the base. Notes 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”. Duri
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2011-05-15
