Antique Grout "Magician" Model Clock

Price Type: auction
Sold Date: April, 2002
Pre-Sale Estimate: (subscribers only)
Sold For: (subscribers only)

Catalog Description:

C.1835, French "Magician" automaton clock in very good original condition. This ormolu and bronze clock was certainly inspired by the work of J. F. Houdin (father-in-law of Robert Houdin), whose examples are well known. In this clock a Blackamoor in formal dress stands behind his magic table with star studded drape, and lifts his gold cups alternatively, producing varying balls and dice and mystifying the audience with his slight of hand. Houdins' examples used a wooden head to reduce the power required to animate the head, while this one uses a bronze head with gilded turban; the magician looking first to his left and lifting his right arm and then looking to the right and raising his right arm. The time and bell strike silk thread movement in the center of the gilded case has a porcelain dial with the name Grout, R' de la Feronnerie S. The ormolu case front is decorated with swags of blossoms, scrolls and shell themes. See Houdin's clock pictured in Derek Roberts' book: Mystery Novelty and Fantasy Clocks, (1999), page 232. Height 14 1/2"

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