Cartier, "Flamingo and Lotus Automaton Clock" - Sotheby's
A superb and very rare yellow gold, diamond, yellow diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald, mother-of-pearl, nephrite, pink hardstone, lapis lazuli, onyx and grey hardstone mantel clock with automaton circa 1990 mvt 81 case wk900014
quartz movement • dial with silvered chapter ring, Arabic numerals, mother-of-pearl centerfield in circular gold case, with brilliant-cut diamond-set bezel and crown • the heavy 18k yellow gold rectangular base set with onyx and gray mottled hardstone, four large round lapis lazuli buttons, one activating the lotus automaton, one housing the power supply inside an opening drawer, the top of the base in mother-of-pearl, with a large yellow diamond and diamond-set lotus, its ten petals opening to reveal the dial, all on nephrite leaves, to the other side two smaller lotuses in pink hardstone with nephrite leaves, a large flamingo standing on one leg, set throughout with brilliant-cut diamonds, its abundant plumage set with square-cut sapphires, rubies and emeralds, the beak of pink hardstone and onyx, with sapphire eyes • base, case, dial and movement signed and hallmarked ; height 25 cm, width 24.5 cm. Estimation: 1,500,000 - 2,500,000 HKD
NOTE: The total colorless diamond weight is approximately 190 carats.
The total yellow diamond weight is approximately 90 carats.
The total sapphire weight is approximately 32 carats.
The total ruby weight is approximately 20 carats.
The total emerald weight is approximately 14 carats.
The total weight of the clock is 6.02 kilograms.
With an unsigned wooden travelling case.
The “Flamingo and Lotus” automaton clock combines two Cartier motifs within an impressive, glamorously gem-set work of art. Cartier’s Lotus automata clocks arose during the 1980s during an age of decadence and sumptuous design in Mystery Clocks. For a similar example of Cartier Lotus automata clock from the 1980s, see Barracca, J., Negretti, G., and Nencini, F., Le Temps de Cartier, p. 305. Perched alongside, the bejeweled Flamingo is synonymous with the royal history of Cartier. This dazzling motif hearkens back to the magnificent and famous Flamingo brooch formerly in the collection of the Duchess of Windsor, which was purchased by Collection Cartier for £1,721,250 / US$2,678,954 at Sotheby’s London in November 2010.
Sotheby's. Important Watches including Magnificent Clocks from an Important Private Collection. Hong Kong | 07 avr. 2013 - www.sothebys.com