The Small Singing Bird Cage Clock with Automaton Jumping Bird & Automaton Waterfall, attributed to Jaquet-Droz et Leschot Geneva which headlined Antiquorum’s auction in Geneva on November 10, sold to a Russian collector for CHF 291,750 ($305,000). Made circa 1785, this is an extremely fine and diminutive, gilded-brass, automaton singing bird clock with “jumping” early-type painted bird with automated beak, wings, tail and automaton waterfall activated at will and by the clock every three hours.
The auction of “Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces”, held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva, which offered nearly 1000 lot sale brought a total of CHF 12.9 million, with 80% sold by lot and 131% by value.