Automaton Clock And Music Box House

One of the most amazing timepieces we have ever acquired that offers far more than meets the eye, this incredible work of art blends the beauty of a painting with the mechanical complexities of both a cylinder music box and an automaton. While it is clear to see the integrated clock residing within the arched giltwood and gesso frame, when activated, this painting quite literally comes alive. As the cylinder mechanism within plays its lovely tune, every character in the farrier's shop becomes animated – from the group of farrier's toiling away at the forge and anvil forming the horseshoes, to the wagging of the charming terrier's tale. This musical automaton picture clock is attributed to Xavier Tharin of Paris who was the preeminent creator of this fantastical "moving pictures", especially this particular farrier scene. His process mixed oil painting and hand-colored lithograph images that were layered starting from the back, middle and foreground to craft the complex series of movements throughout the painting. A look inside this particular work reveals the complex mechanism (with the three gongs, pendulum and cylinder components immediately visible) which must run the timepiece, the cylinder musical component plus the multitude of moving elements in the painting...a truly incredible feat considering the technical prowess to create just one of these devices. Musical picture clocks...

A majestic specimen of English clockmaking, this important longcase clock by London clockmaker James Fenton features an exceptional Adam and Eve automaton above the dial. Longcase ti...

This exceptional singing bird cylinder music box is a wonder of Austrian mechanical ingenuity. Not only does it play a selection of classical airs with remarkable tone and clarity, but its lush sound is accompanied by a colorful, singing bird automaton...

This beautiful French clock garniture, styled in the Louis XV taste, is a charming work of artistry and craftsmanship. Crafted of richly veined and brightly-hued fluorspar mounted wi...

This beautiful French vitrine clock styled in the Moroccan taste is an exquisite work of artistry and craftsmanship. Featuring a clock, thermometer and barometer, no detail has been overlooked regarding its functionality, design and construction. This magnificent clock rests on four bracket feet with gadrooned ormolu bases atop a square red marble plinth...

The Art Deco style is beautifully executed in this enchanting desk clock by J.E. Caldwell. The gilded dial, beautifully enameled in midnight blue and celadon green, sports four perfect apples in relief at its corners, and is framed by a luxurious plaque of amber-hued onyx. Venerable American jeweler J. E. Caldwell & Co. from Philadelphia is known for its Art Nouveau and Deco jewels. One of the oldest fine jewelers in the United States, the company was founded in 1839 by James Emmott Caldwell and supplied wealthy Philadelphians with stylish European jewelry, silver, and objets d'art. The store itself was a study in opulence, with hand-cut Baccarat chandeliers and French Regency-style oak cabinetry designed by Horace Trumbauer...

A novelty mantel clock in the form of an industrial beam engine by Andre Romain Guilmet, dating from circa 1878 and numbered 196 and signed by Giulmet. The eight day movement is sur...

This fine, antique mantel clock is constructed in ebonised wood by the renowned Parisian maker of automata, Xavier Tharin (French, active mid 19th Century). The clock face is set onto a curled, stylized pediment atop the clock case. The face is of white enamel, featuring black Roman numerals and signed 'Tharin a Paris', and is bordered in beaded ormolu. The pediment in which the face is set is decorated with ormolu mounts of stylized acanthus leaf form. The pediment is set onto a rectangular frame of ebonised wood, inside which is set a musical automaton...

This Clock plays Brahms Lullaby at the turn of the knob in the back. Original use was as an alarm Clock. Decorative Use, alarm and clock are not functional. Sage green colored with g...

This superb work of art combines the beauty of a painting with the mechanical complicities of an automaton and clock. Depicting a rural scene, the clock is integrated into the church, sitting within the giltwood and gesso frame. Also within the painting is automaton windmill, again integrated into the picture atop the windmill. The automaton runs off the clock, so requires no separate winding, The clock is a fine 8 day, fusee movement with gut string, with verge escapement...

Antique French, "Ship's Quarter Deck" Automata clock from the Industrial Series. The bronze and silvered case is in the form of a ship's quarter deck, s...

Large French style 8 day brass automaton windmill industrial clock w marble base. Here we have a wonderful example of the industrial series popular in French horology. While the c...