Signature of Pierre Jaquet-Droz
The King of Spain having died soon afterwards, he returned to La Chaux de Fonds in 1759. In 1767 he sent his son Henri Louis Jaquet-Droz to France, where he studied mathematics in the University of Nancy (Lorraine) and on his return, three years later, he took him into partnership with him.—
The productions of the father and the son then attained the utmost of perfection. In collaboration with his father and of the very best workmen of that time, Leschot, Maillardet, and Jean Pierre Droz (who became Director of the Paris Mint) Henry Louis Jaquet-Droz, made the most marvellous pieces that have ever been produced;—the Designer, the Clavecin Player, the Young Writer, wonderful specimens which still can be seen in perfect condition and still working in the Museum of Neuchâtel.
In 1774, Henry Louis Jaquet-Droz came to Paris and was received with the greatest favor by King Louis XVIth and especially by the young Queen Marie Antoinette, who had ascended to the Throne the same year, who was particularly and deeply interested in his Works after she had seen the “Designer” by pressing a button, making her own portrait and that of the King’s on a blank sheet of paper placed before the instrument.—(This can still be seen in Neuchâtel every month, and also at any time by payment of a fee.)
Jaquet-Droz afterwards went to England, where he was received by King George III.
It is in England that he made most of the singing bird boxes known of his construction.
He started a workshop in London where the most important and interesting pieces in complicated watches and boxes were made,—which after were to be found in almost every part of the world, even in China, as in 1860 on the occasion of the pillage of the Summer Palace of the Emperor of China, many pieces signed by Jaquet-Droz were discovered and brought back to Europe.
Gold, enamel and diamond Bird Box by “Bruguier—the Father”
Collection Tiffany & Co., New York
Every one is aware how much works of this nature are appreciated by the Chinese in general, and the fact that several of Jaquet-Droz’s productions were in possession of the Emperor of China is a sufficient proof of the genius of this artisan.—