Patek Philippe Electronic Time Switch, St4

The famed Patek Philippe crafted this spectacular gilt bronze cartel clock. The case is exuberantly embellished in the Louis XV style with scrolling foliate work and an argyle-patterned screen punctuated with rosettes. The decorative screen conceals a panel of solar cells on the front of the timepiece. These photoelectric cells, along with a backup lithium battery, power the caliber 17-250 mechanical movement. It tells the time on a white enamel dial with both Roman and Arabic numerals and ornate brass hands. The timepiece comes complete with its original fitted Patek Philippe box. Overall, this clock displays the lasting quality and style of this legendary Swiss firm. Patek Philippe is one of the world’s premier luxury brands and is widely regarded as the world's most prestigious watchmaker. Founded in 1851 by Polish watchmaker Antoni Patek and French watchmaker Adrien Philippe...

A triumph of ingenuity and craftsmanship, this Swiss cipher machine is a fabulous example of mechanical precision. Cipher machines are used to encrypt a...

This Swiss-engineered cipher machine is a fascinating piece of 20th-century military and engineering history, and this particular example is one of the ...

This rare and authentic pair of Chilean spurs is stunning to behold. Traditionally worn by huasos, or Chilean cowboys, these silvered steel spurs, or esp...

One of only a handful ever made, this Double DeLuxe Violano Virtuoso, created by the Mills Novelty Company, is an extremely rare example of American musical automata, featuring not one, but two brilliantly tuned violins. Singled out by the U.S. government in 1909 as one of the eight greatest inventions of the decade when it was introduced at the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, the Mills DeLuxe Violano-Virtuoso stands as one of the most important and incredible musical devices ever made. The “Double Mills,” as it was nicknamed, plays classical, operatic and popular music. It can play on a single or up to 15 nickels and has the ability to run for approximately an hour. It produces exceptional sound with a crisp tonal quality and melodious notes. Housed in a beautiful quarter-sawn oak case, each violin produces 64 notes and is accompanied by a 44-note piano. It is truly rare to find a historical musical mechanism so complete, with such remarkable sound quality and in excellent condition. This particular Violano has been updated with a digital player system that allows song selections to be made over a WiFi connection. This gives the user a choice between digital downloads or traditional paper rolls for added convenience. Perfected and patented in 1912 by Henry K. Sandell, the Violano-Virtuoso was produced in limited quantities until 1929 and could be found in the very finest restaurants, hotels and oceanliners. In fact, the Violano-Virtuoso was one of the few American-made mechanical musical devices to be distributed worldwide to the most exclusive international clientele. The below testimonial was sent to the Mills Company by the Governor of Idaho, aptly describing the incredible music produced by the Violano-Virtuoso. Dear Sir, Have just had the pleasure of listening to your wonderful Automatic Violin and Piano on exhibition at the Government Building here. This marvelous instrument certainly far surpasses anything that I have eve heard in automatic music. The tone and expression of the violin and the piano are so perfect and clear that is really hard to believe but that there is the human hand playing..." Indeed, for the price of a nickel, the Mills Violano...

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...

An antique American railroad yard switch sign on custom stand. A wonderful example of both Americana and industrial folk art! Born in the US in the early 20th century, the large, double sided, painted red iron circular disc shaped "target" sign; mounted to painted black cast iron central pedestal standard; surmounted by hand hammered and chiseled raw iron three inch tall finial; rising from a later five spoke pentagonal black iron base, elaborately shaped, fan form with niche curved flowing lines. The central standard can unscrew from the base for easy transportation and storage. Versatile, use it indoors as a decorative accent and quick way to add color, rustic texture, dimension, and interest, or use outdoors to brighten up your space as a garden ornament or statue. Original condition but we mildly sealed it to preserve the beautiful, warm rustic patina that enhances it so much. Now stable, it won't make a mess or deteriorate, while retaining the unique character and charm that can only be aquired from decades of use, being weathered, naturally distressed, with old chippy paint, that's elegantly aged, rich deep red color It is a full size, authentic railroad iron target...

Slim Aarons: Once Upon A Time. Abrams 1st edition hardcover, 2003. 240 pages. Featuring many of Slim Aarons iconic photographs.

My Time at Tiffany's by Gene Moore. St Martins Press, 1990. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. Gene Moore dressed Tiffany's windows for 35 years and helped ...

Louise Bourgeois: Stitches in Time by Frances Morris. Published by AugustProjects; Et Al, Dublin, 2003. 1st Ed hardcover no dust jacket as issued. Published in conjunction with a tra...

This lighter would likely have a sleek and elegant design, indicative of the Art Deco style popular during the 1920s. This black Porcelain lighter has clean lines, geometric shapes, ...

Restauration, Louis-Philippe by Janine Leris-Laffargue. Editions Massin, Paris, France, 1994. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. French furniture of the Louis-Philippe restoration pe...