20201M-001

Carioca samba This unique piece in Grand Feu cloisonné enamel conjures up the festive tropical atmosphere of the famous Rio Carnival, drawing on an old poster announcing the event. The outlines of the musicians and dancers in their typical costumes called for about 21.02 m of gold wire (~38.87 g). To render the picturesque, passionate carnival ambiance, the enameller worked with a palette of transparent, opalescent and opaque enamels in an opulent 88 colors, together with 11 colors of miniature painting on enamel, to render the brightness and exuberance of the scene. Gold and silver leaf embedded beneath translucent enamel, according to the technique of paillonné enameling, brings out particular details of the festival, while illuminating the decoration. Each enameled plate underwent from 8 to 10 firings at temperatures ranging from 910°C to 930°C. An hour circle in purple lacquer adorned with applied Arabic numerals in gilt harmonizes with leaf-shaped hands, also in purple lacquer. This clock is powered by a calibre 17’’’ PEND mechanical movement rewound by an electric motor.