press release - Automates et Merveilles

"Automata & Marvels" Association
PRESS RELEASE
The "Automata & Marvels" Association, the aim of which is to safeguard and promote
the canton of Neuchâtel's horological heritage, is pleased to announce that it will
launch and support a new project for three of the canton's major institutions: the
Musée d’horlogerie du Locle – Château des Monts (Le Locle Watchmaking Museum)
the Musée international d’horlogerie (International Watchmaking Museum) in La
Chaux-de-Fonds, and the Musée d’art et d’histoire de Neuchâtel (Neuchâtel Museum
of Art and History).
This will involve the restoration of three prestigious pieces, created by clockmakers
from Neuchâtel and belonging to three of the canton's major horological collections,
followed by a joint exhibition for the three museums at which the pieces will be on
display. A publication will accompany this major work.
The selected iconic works are:
 the songbird pendulum clock by Pierre Jaquet-Droz from the Le Locle
Watchmaking Museum, Château des Monts
 the planetary clock by François Ducommun from the International Watchmaking
Museum;
 the astronomical clock by Albert Billeter from the Neuchâtel Museum of Art
and History
Postal address
Musée international d’horlogerie – Rue des Musées 29 – 2301 La Chauxde-Fonds www.automatesetmerveilles.ch
Administration: [email protected] – Presidency: [email protected]
"Automata & Marvels" Association
This new project by the "Automata & Marvels" Association can only be conceived of
as a whole.
The three works selected by the museums have parallels which, when combined,
increase the pertinence of the restoration projects:
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Works by Neuchâtel clockmakers (Ducommun, Jaquet-Droz and Billeter)
Unique pieces with considerable value in terms of heritage, all three dating
from the first half of the 19th century
Each is part of the permanent collection on show to the general public in its
respective museum
They are all referenced and described in Alfred Chapuis' "Histoire de la
Pendulerie neuchâteloise" (History of Neuchâtel clockmaking).
They are in a good state of preservation, requiring targeted interventions
The 4-link chains, key components of the Pierre Jaquet-Droz musical
pendulum clock from the Le Locle Watchmaking Museum, are typical of this
clockmaker's work in that they feature a large barrel to provide the force
required for their operation (music and automata). The study and manufacture
of these chains is a shared goal, as all three institutions own works by JaquetDroz.
The three museums participating in the project aim to work together with a view to
making the best use of the skills of each, networking their resources, selecting
providers and participants in agreement with colleagues, whilst providing mutual
scientific support.
The "Automata & Marvels" Association is proud to be able to play a role in
safeguarding this heritage, and has already received significant support from
associations, institutions and private donors in launching the project. A trilingual
website www.automatesetmerveilles.ch gives full details of the restoration and other
work being undertaken. We welcome all support, which will enable us to promote the
project as fully as possible.
We will keep you regularly updated with the progress of the restoration work, and you
are welcome to come and view the work being carried out in the workshops of the
participating museums.
We would like to thank you for your attention, and remain at your disposal should you
require further information.
With kind regards,
"Automata & Marvels" Association, October 2016
Postal address
Musée international d’horlogerie – Rue des Musées 29 – 2301 La Chauxde-Fonds www.automatesetmerveilles.ch
Administration: [email protected] – Presidency: [email protected]