![SWISS [瑞士製] | A RARE GOLD AND ENAMEL MUSICAL AUTOMATA WATCH KEY CIRCA 1830 [罕有黃金畫琺瑯音樂活動人偶錶匙，年份約1830]](https://dam.sothebys.com/dam/image/lot/d1dc220c-79b4-4f73-845c-1473b63c93ce/primary/extra_small)
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SWISS [瑞士製] | A RARE GOLD AND ENAMEL MUSICAL AUTOMATA WATCH KEY CIRCA 1830 [罕有黃金畫琺瑯音樂活動人偶錶匙，年份約1830]
Lot Closed
June 16, 03:53 PM GMT
Estimate
7,000 - 10,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
The Bow-Swing
SWISS
[瑞士製]
A RARE GOLD AND ENAMEL MUSICAL AUTOMATA WATCH KEY
CIRCA 1830
[ 罕有黃金畫琺瑯音樂活動人偶錶匙，年份約1830]
• Movement: gilded, disc plucked by two combs each with six tines, a plate above carrying the motion work for the automata figures, twice numbered to the top plate ?68, possibly 86?, the number repeated to the backplate
• Case: gold, red and turquoise enamel border, one side with vari-coloured enamel floral centre and chased gold flowers and leaves, the other with polychrome enamel love garden view inhabited by dancing figures on a bow-swing, with wire-work winding bow, flanked by two gold nude figures
total length 66mm
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For a what appears to be the opposite (complimentary) pair to the present lot see Antiquorum Geneva, Nov 16, 1997, lot 101. For a similar motif in watch form, please see Ian White and Julia Clarke, The Majesty of the Chinese Market Watch, p. 197, fig.5.99A.
Automata are complicated mechanical objects, and when paired with music create an exceptional object to marvel. To combine these two into one movement and further fit the works inside of a key was an incredible feat