Enamel is made of melted glass, often on metal. Sometimes called vitreous or porcelain enamel, it is made by fusing powdered glass to a base by firing, usually between 750 and 850°C (1,380 and 1,560°F). The powder melts, flows, and then hardens to a smooth, durable coating on metal, or on glass or ceramics.
It has been used on decorative objects for two or three thousand years, but especially in the Middle Ages in Europe. In the 19th century, it was used on everyday objects such as kitchen equipment and road signs. The glass is hard-wearing, scratch resistant and easy to clean. Reference: Wikipedia
Enamel is often used for watch and clock faces. Below are some examples of enamel automatons including an enamel frog and an enamel musical automaton necessaire.
A SILVER KEY WIND OPEN FACE JACQUEMART AUTOMATON QUARTER REPEATING POCKET WATCH Date: Circa 1820
Movement: Gilt full plate, pierced and engraved balance bridge, 3-arm balance, silver regulation
Dial: Central white dial, black Arabic numerals, black minute markers, set within outer blue enamel surround with engraved automaton Jacquemart figures striking on two bells, blued steel Breguet style hands
Case: Engine turned round, reeded band, push repeat via stem, No.1192, 8521
Size: 56mm.
Sold for £ 4,462 (US$ 5,543) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2021
A CONTINENTAL ENAMELLED GOLD MUSICAL AUTOMATON AND TIMEPIECE CASKET
THE CASKET, 19TH CENTURY; THE AUTOMATON, CIRCA 1920
Rectangular case on four paw feet, chased with scrolling foliage and musical trophies, each panel set with an enamel plaque, on the cover Apollo and his lute, signed ‘L’ on the bottom right, the sides with musical instruments, the interior revealing on one side, a circular enamel panel featuring a lakeside view, with three vari-colour gold automaton figures of a putto, helped by his mother, dance to the music of a lute player, and on the other side a rectangular panel with an enamel dial with landscape view above in beaded oval frame, on an engine-turned ground enamelled in deep blue, with original key
4 1⁄4 in. (108 mm.) wide
Sold for GBP 27,500 at Christie’s in 2021
Gold Hunting Case ‘Automaton 1/4 Hour Repeater’ Pocket Watch
Lever-set, push button, double hammer, 1/4 hour repeater, guilloché dial, subsidiary seconds dial, 2 angels ringing a bell, angel playing a string instrument, silver & gold-tone spires on a green enamel and engine-turned background, dia. ap. 59.6 mm., gilt-movement, front cover missing.
Sold for $2,812 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2018
Antique Karl Griesbaum singing bird box. A rectangular automaton hand-painted box with polychrome enamel. Featuring romantic landscape scenes painted within medallions, flanked by blueand cream-white enamel and gilded decoration. The top with an artist’s rendition of Jean-Honore Fragonard’s The Swing (1767). Inside the hinged top is a red-feathered bird, who signs and moves from side to side, fitting into a pierced ovalgrille. Mechanism activated by push button. Inset square clock face with gilt metal numerals, marked Gubelin, Swiss. Impressed marks to underside, maker’s mark obscured, probably EB for Emil Brenk, METALL. German, late 19th / early 20th C.
Sold for CA$4,200 at A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals in 2022
A yellow gold minute repeater hunting case watch with automaton and enamel dial, Circa 1900
Sold for 75,600 HKD in 2022
