The automaton or jacquemart is a delightful mechanical concept that has unfortunately faded from view over the last decade or two. But coincidentally, two of the brands familiar with the craft have come under the LVMH group, and their savoir-faire is preserved by the parent company. Lying dormant until recent years, the art of animated dials has returned under Louis Vuitton’s high watchmaking pieces.
The Tambour Opera Automata combines multiple rare crafts in watchmaking, from micro-sculpture and micro-engraving to enamelling. Referencing the art of traditional Sichuan opera, particularly the technique of mask-switching by performers, the dial features a black, white, and red mask, hand-painted by Anita Porchet, with separate moveable pieces for the eyes and mouth. This is the most complicated aspect of the dial, having to paint several distinct parts…
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CROWN (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 4 2023