Restoration of a horological masterpiece

To safeguard this precious heritage, Jaquet Droz is supporting the project for the restoration of three major horological pieces, backed by the Association Automates et Merveilles (Automata and Marvels Association), by sponsoring the restoration of a spectacular songbird pendulum clock in the Empire style with a mechanism signed by Pierre Jaquet-Droz.

With a height of 92.56 cm, this clock has a cabinet with bronze applied chapters, surmounted by a cage housing the little winged companion. The clock takes its inspiration from Egypt and the orientalism that was so popular in the reign of Napoleon 1. The sphinx, victories, hairdresser’s busts, swans and lotus leaves make direct reference to that historical period.

Its movement bears the signature «Pierre Jaquet-Droz à La Chaux-de-Fonds» on the bottom plate. It seems likely that Napoleon in person arranged for the Jaquet Droz movement to be installed in this clock before the cabinet was made, to present the Princess of Wurtemberg with a gift that was particularly in vogue at the time.

Acquired for the collection of the Horological Museum of le Locle - Château des Monts in 1984, the clock soon became a major piece in the museum’s collections. It comprises a movement with double fusées and chains which strikes the hours and quarters on two bells, together with a crown wheel escapement. The bird song is produced by a serinette with a pinned cylinder, capable of playing six different tunes on ten flutes. The bird seems to come to life during the song. It pivots on its own axis, opens its beak, shakes its tail feathers and swells its throat.

Particularly complex, this restoration project is due for completion in 2018 and on the same occasion will mark the 280^th anniversary of Jaquet Droz.

November 24, 2016