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Parmigiani Fleurier revived a unique object from the Sandoz family collection, the double-barreled pistol and its songbird.
Nov 24, 2023 15:02:42 #
Subject: Restoration
Imagine the craftsmanship involved to create such a
magnificent piece of art, especially to be made in early 1800s
In 2016, after twelve months work, Parmigiani Fleurier revived a unique
object from the Sandoz family collection, the double-barreled pistol and
its songbird. This rare automaton was created, probably around 1815, by the
famous Rochat Brothers using a design based on a cavalry pistol.
When the hammer is cocked, pulling the trigger releases a hummingbird
instead of the traditional gun shot.
The bird pirouettes, opens its beak, turns its head, flaps its tail and
wings, all the time singing a catchy melody, before vanishing as amazingly
as it appeared.
Before it fell into the hands of the Parmigiani Fleurier restorers, this beautiful clockwork had sustained damage to most components.
The passage of time had affected the mechanism and, over the decades, no
less than six interventions have been carried out on the artefact. Most of
these were hasty, defective and ended up deforming the piece as a whole.
The Parmigiani Fleurier restorers had to start from scratch unraveling the
mysteries of the mechanism one by one. They remodelled every part of the
pistol, from the gears to the enamel and the feathers of the bird.
Today, after that twelve-month revival, the masterpiece has been
faithfully returned to its former form.
Parmigiani Fleurier - Restoration "The Pistol and its Songbird"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW6aMh_B3DA
Imagine the craftsmanship involved to create such a
magnificent piece of art, especially to be made in early 1800s
In 2016, after twelve months work, Parmigiani Fleurier revived a unique
object from the Sandoz family collection, the double-barreled pistol and
its songbird. This rare automaton was created, probably around 1815, by the
famous Rochat Brothers using a design based on a cavalry pistol.
When the hammer is cocked, pulling the trigger releases a hummingbird
instead of the traditional gun shot.
The bird pirouettes, opens its beak, turns its head, flaps its tail and
wings, all the time singing a catchy melody, before vanishing as amazingly
as it appeared.
Before it fell into the hands of the Parmigiani Fleurier restorers, this beautiful clockwork had sustained damage to most components.
The passage of time had affected the mechanism and, over the decades, no
less than six interventions have been carried out on the artefact. Most of
these were hasty, defective and ended up deforming the piece as a whole.
The Parmigiani Fleurier restorers had to start from scratch unraveling the
mysteries of the mechanism one by one. They remodelled every part of the
pistol, from the gears to the enamel and the feathers of the bird.
Today, after that twelve-month revival, the masterpiece has been
faithfully returned to its former form.
Parmigiani Fleurier - Restoration "The Pistol and its Songbird"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW6aMh_B3DA
Nov 24, 2023 15:20:40 #
Nov 24, 2023 15:21:34 #
Check out Infrared Photography section of our forum.
Nov 25, 2023 07:44:55 #
MosheR
Loc: New York City
bcheary wrote:
Subject: Restoration br br Imagine the craftsma... (show quote)
Imagine what a great programmer that designer would have been.
Nov 25, 2023 09:06:12 #
Christie's had the world's only matched pair for sale at auction, at an estimated price of $2.5 million in 2012.
Nov 25, 2023 11:29:01 #
MosheR wrote:
Imagine what a great programmer that designer would have been.
True!
Nov 25, 2023 11:29:17 #
alexol wrote:
Christie's had the world's only matched pair for sale at auction, at an estimated price of $2.5 million in 2012.
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