FINE ANTIQUE CLOCKS.
Established 1968.
Tel.(01732)358986. Fax.(01732)771842.
To Contact us click here.
FINE ANTIQUE CLOCKS.
Established 1968.
Tel.(01732)358986. Fax.(01732)771842.
To Contact us click
here.
|
31296C.MYS A highly important singing bird clock from the latter part of the 18th century. The clock is in the form of a large birdcage with the clock dial mounted in the base of the cage. The clock mechanism, the automata and organ mechanism are all enclosed in the base of the cage which is highly decorative with porcelain panels and porcelain statues in niches in the four corners and well cast and gilded floral swags round the panels. The clock, although designed to be hung from the ceiling, has four feet in the corners in the shape of balls and claws. The birdcage itself is made of beautifully chased and fretted brass with a dome top and with eight columns surmounted by cast finials. The two birds rest on brass balls mounted on the perch. The movements of these clocks are extremely complex. They take the form of a relatively simple short duration clock movement with verge escapement and centre sweep seconds linked to a highly complex automata and organ movement. The organ and automata play on the hour or at will via a pull repeat cord. The bird song can either be set to repeat the same song or to scroll through the six different bird songs which are available on the barrel. At the hour or at will the birds twist and turn on their perches, they flap their wings, move their tails and beaks and the organ plays the various bird songs. At that time in the late 18th century this was considered to be quite exceptional and many of these birdcage clocks were sold to the Far East and India. They commanded very large sums of money, and many were made for royalty. |
 Click here to enlarge picture |
 Click here to enlarge picture |
 Click here to enlarge picture |
| The clock movement which is buried underneath the organ and automata movement is of fairly typical design with a large balance wheel and verge escapement. The automata and organ movement takes the form of a large power unit with chain fusee and large spring barrel which powers both the numerous levers and cams which give movement to the birds and also powers the bellows and pinned cylinder which opens the stops on the organ pipes. The whole movement is shoe horned into the base of the case and, from the research we have been able to do, would appear to have been of reasonably constant form throughout the 20 odd years of production of these clocks. |
| The birds themselves take the form of shaped wooden
dummies mounted on metal frames with moveable levers for the wings, beak
and tails of the bird. These are then covered with real bird skins and
feathers and look extremely realistic. As with all these clocks, which are
now some 225 years old, restoration has had to take place to the birds.
Diameter of base: 12" (30.5) Height of cage: 19" (38) Sold |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The firm of Jaquet-Droz was founded by Pierre Jaquet-Droz who was born in 1721. He came from a farming background but was to make his name in the clockmaking and automata industry.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
By the time we get to the 1770s the firm had risen to international fame and established branches both in London and Geneva although their original business, which was in la Chaux-de-Fonds, continued. They were heavily involved with James Cox who was their principal agent in the Far East and most of their clocks, watches and automata which went to the Far East went through James Cox. In 1764 Jean-Frédéric Leschot joined the company. He was only 18 at the time and shortly after Pierre’s son Henri-Louis also joined the company at a similar age. The two men formed a strong friendship which remained with them all their lives. Leschot was a brilliant mechanic who could turn his hands to making almost anything from artificial limbs to elaborate mechanical clocks and assisted with design and put into practice the inventions and ideas generated by Henri-Louis and his father Pierre. |
It is difficult to understand today how much interest was generated by these automata and singing bird clocks. For a period of some 25 years they were considered as quite sensational and every time they were shown they gathered large crowds.
Henri-Louis died in 1791 but the firm continued for some years thereafter, certainly into the early part of the 19th century.
For further reading on these clocks and the firm of Jaquet-Droz please see ‘Mystery, Novelty & Fantasy Clocks’ by Derek Roberts, chapter 16, page 191 and ‘Flights of Fancy Mechanical Singing Birds’ by Sharon and Christian Bailly, pages 81 to 145.
 Click here to enlarge picture |
 Click here to enlarge picture |
