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. 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. 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. 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. Much like placing a piece of wax fruit amongst real fruit in a bowl, this piece was intended to blend in. By using a day-to-day object as the foundation of this piece, Roullet & Decamps projected not just developed surprise, but real surprise. The firm who made the milk churn also made all sorts of container and cookware and this milk churn is the real thing. This amazing survivor displays the three main attributes which continue to place antique automata in the spotlight - suspense, amusement and surprise. One of the most sought-after petit musical automatons made by Roullet & Decamps, Douglas-Fisher present here a superb example in full operational and original condition. The cat's head of papier-mâché, wonderfully naturalistically covered in white rabbits fur with glass eyes and shaped painted metal tongue, driven by the hidden movement below with direct drive to the Baker-Troll single-section comb cylinder movement playing one air, mounted within the real 1.1/2-litre thick polished aluminium milk churn canister with churn maker's stamp to underside, swing handle and near-tight fitting lid with turned knob, start/stop and winding spindle to rear. When the milk churn lid is removed, the movement wound and the start/stop rod actuated, the music starts and the magic begins, with the just-in-view white cat's head rising up, turning slightly as its tongue laps at the side of the churn continuously, pausing briefly at the top of the rim, before continuing upwards above the churn Summit, still lapping the milk with tongue, holding the stance for a few seconds, then suddenly dropping down back into the darkness of the milk churn, music accompanying all the while. Samuel West, London, a substantial automaton musical bracket clock the eight-day duration, triple-fusee movement with verge escapement, striking the hours on a bell and playing four airs on eight bells, Brittons Strike Home, Miller of Mansfield, From Me to Thee and March in Scipio, the backplate engraved with rococo and floral decoration, with the dial having a raised chapter ring engraved with black Roman numerals, with two subsidiary dials for Chime/Silent and tune change, the matted centre having a date aperture and a silvered plaque engraved with the maker's name Samuel West, London, with cast-brass gilded spandrels to the four corners, the arch incorporating an automaton picture of a village scene with various moving parts, in an ebonised case with a pagoda pediment surmounted by a flame finial, with gilt-brass mounts and applied gilt decoration, height 90cm, width 45cm.About A superb antique cat-in-milk churn musical automaton by Roullet & Decamps,
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