10-28-200710-28-2007
Skinner Auctions
Skinner AuctionsBolton MA
2383
October 28, 2007 10:00 AMCalender
550

Fine Diamond-set Gold and Enamel Carillon Musical Box Attributed to John Rich

Sell one like this
$94,000$80,000
Auction: Clocks, Watches & Scientific Instruments - 2383Location: BoltonDate / Time: October 28, 2007 10:00AM

Description:

Fine Diamond-set Gold and Enamel Carillon Musical Box Attributed to John Rich, movement and case marked No. 1, signed and dated on the mainspring, Benson & Ibell, August 1796, playing two tunes on nest of five bells, with finely-chased and engraved gilt-brass skeleton movement, chain-drive fusee wound from the top, and eight-step change-repeat cam lever-operated from the right-hand side, in gold and deep-blue guilloche enamel case with hinged base and lid compartments, the lid with central starburst medallion of rose-cut collet and bead-set diamonds with emanating rays and diamonds in quartre-lune formation at the corners, floral swags and oak leaf borders, the four sides with swags, two with engine-turned pillars in relief flanking enameled Arcadian roundels depicting a rustic bridge and cottage on the two ends, and river bank scenes on the front and back, the base with larger scene in spandrels depicting picturesque ruined lighthouse and ship, 3 1/4 wd. x 1 1/8 ht. x 1 3/4 in.,(possible restoration or repair on two of the panels).
Literature: Ord-Hume, The Musical Clock, Chapuis & Droz, (1958),Automata, A Historical and Technological Study.
Arthur Ord-Hume notes two instances of the name John Rich in connection with objects of vertue and automata. A John Rich, active in London c. 1750-75, is credited as the maker of an automaton scent bottle, and there is also a maker by the same name recorded in Geneva around 1805. As Chapuis suggests, this length of activity may be explained by two generations with the same name and skill, as was the case with many of the London makers of scientific instruments of the day. There was considerable cooperation at the time between English and Genevan watchmakers. As early as 1785, Pierre Jaquet-Droz and his son operated premises in London (see Lot 558 in this sale),the company ledgers recording that "we caused the style to be engraved as though they were made in England". The English origins of this particular box are emphasized by the casework (attributed to Remond),which incorporates an oak leaf border motif flanking scenes that celebrate an English pastoral idyll that, even in the late 18th century, had long ago disappeared.
Although Rich's work is usually unsigned, the present example may be compared to a gold and enamel scent bottle with concealed carillon playing a single air, illustrated in Chapuis, pp. 183 - 185. The bottle incorporates a watch whose dial bears Rich's signature. Another signed example of the maker's work (in a magician box) is illustrated in Chapuis, pp. 252 - 255. An oval carillon box attributed to John Rich was sold in Mechanical Music, Automata and Dolls at Bonham's in London on May 2, 2007, lot 13. Like the present example, all three are highly decorated and mechanically complex.
A box nearly identical to this, with movement and case marked No. 2, from the Sandoz collection, is illustrated in Maurice & Edouard Sandoz, Collections de Montres et Automates, exhibit 71, p. 134. The Sandoz box and the present example, numbered 1 and 2 were probably commissioned as a pair, destined for the Chinese market.
Estimate $100,000-150,000

Keywords

John Rich, London, Automata, Pierre Jaquet-Droz, Arthur Ord-Hume, Polaroid 88 Polacolor ER 3-1/4 x 3-3/8'' Film, 80 ASA (623959), river bank scenes, Arcadian, United Kingdom, magician , Mechanical Music