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Learn MoreSinging Bird Cane
- This is a masterpiece from Jacob Frisard, a genius in creating singing bird mechanisms
- The cane adorned with 18K gold, 5 carats of diamonds and a 15-carat garnet
- It features a fully functional miniature watch and exquisite guilloché enamel
- The Swiss cane is exceptionally preserved and in working condition, even after over 220 years
- Get complete item description here
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Circa 1800
This extraordinary singing bird cane by Jacob Frisard is not only a masterpiece of craftsmanship but also among the rarest walking sticks ever made. Crafted from 18K gold, this cane is adorned with 5.00 carats of diamonds and a 15.00-carat garnet, set against a backdrop of red guilloché enamel. A twist of the cane's gold-chased collar reveals an innovative miniature singing bird mechanism and an original watch.
Any 19th-century. . .
Circa 1800
This extraordinary singing bird cane by Jacob Frisard is not only a masterpiece of craftsmanship but also among the rarest walking sticks ever made. Crafted from 18K gold, this cane is adorned with 5.00 carats of diamonds and a 15.00-carat garnet, set against a backdrop of red guilloché enamel. A twist of the cane's gold-chased collar reveals an innovative miniature singing bird mechanism and an original watch.
Any 19th-century singing bird mechanism is rare, but only a handful were engineered to fit within the confines of a walking stick. Jacob Frisard, a brilliant mechanical artisan from Geneva and partner of the renowned Jaquet-Droz, was instrumental in developing this intricate miniature movement. His contributions to Jaquet-Droz’s celebrated automata are legendary, and yet only a few of Frisard's creations are known to exist today, with most held in museum collections. Expertly conserved and restored, the movement remains in exceptional working condition more than 220 years after its creation.
The cane itself is astonishing, with an amalgamation of the world's rarest materials on full display. The shaft is made of beautiful snakewood, one of the most exotic and rarest woods ever used, prized for its distinctive snakeskin pattern. The only other known example graces the cover of the “bible” of system canes, Cane Curiosa by Catherine Dike, though ours is far more elaborate and beautiful.
39 1/4" length
Period: | 19th Century |
Origin: | Other |
Type: | System/Gadget Canes |
Stones: | Diamonds;Garnet |
Depth: | 2.25 in. (5.72 cm) |
Width: | 2.25 in. (5.72 cm) |
Height: | 39.25 in. (99.7 cm) |
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Read MoreAt M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
Learn More