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Jaquet Droz celebrates its fabulous heritage on June 21^st, 2012

The idea of an exhibition germinated from the presence ofthe historic automata constructed by Pierre and Henri-Louis Jaquet-Drozin the collections of the Musée d’art et d’histoire de Neuchâtel and the latter's desire to gain more scientific knowledge about these creative geniuses and the world of clockwork automata.

The Musée d’art et d’histoire de Neuchâtel,the Musée international d’horlogerie de La Chaux-de-Fondsandthe Musée d’horlogerie du Locle-Château des Montscame together to present an exhibition on three outstanding masters of 18^th-century clockmaking: Pierre Jaquet-Droz, his son Henri-Louis and their colleagueJean-FrédéricLeschot.

Originally from the Neuchâtel Mountains, the Jaquet-Droz father and son teammade a reputation for themselves as brilliant inventors and astute businessmen. They were famous in Europe and world-wideforproducing luxury goods characterized by the purity and elegance of their design. Among these remarkableobjectswerepieces of jewelry with miniaturized mechanisms, musical clockwork automata, such as singing birds, and clockswithautomata, including humanoid automata.

To highlight the Jaquet-Drozand Leschot genius,as well as their quest for answers – something thatconnects them totoday's world – the three museums decided to share their expertise and collectionsin order to mount an exhibition enriched by many exceptional pieces on loan fromprivate and public collections. Presented simultaneously at all three institutions and in three languages (French, German and English), this international artistic and technical event will take the visitor from the 18^th to the 21^st century.

Neuchâtel, Musée d’art et d’histoire

Automates & merveilles: Les Jaquet-Droz et Leschot

[the Jaquet-Droz familyandLeschot]

Who were the Jaquet-Droz andLeschot? How did they come to start their business? How did they conquer the world, expanding from La Chaux-de-Fondsto Geneva, London and Paris? What role did automata play in their collection of pieces intended for the luxury market? More generally, how were automata usedin the 18^th century as tools for scientific and philosophic research? What do these automata have in common with the robots of today and tomorrow? These are some of the questions that the Musée d’art et d’histoire de Neuchâtel (MAHN) will be addressing in its section of the exhibition.

The Jaquet-Droz automaton to be shown in Neuchâtel: The Scribe by Pierre Jaquet-Droz

La Chaux-de-Fonds, Musée international d’horlogerie

Automates & merveilles: Merveilleux mouvements…Surprenantes mécaniques [Marvellousmovements….amazingmechanisms]

One thematic highlight is automated musical production. Musical boxes, musical automata, street organs, mechanical musical instruments and all kinds of chimes and glockenspiels will amaze visitors. Designed to evokesurprise and astonishment, the exhibition will lead the visitor pastmystery clocks, perpetual motion mechanisms and "celestial" automata such as planetariumsand clocks indicating complex astronomical information. Indeed, the main objective of the temporary exhibition at the Musée international d’horlogerie (MIH) will be to amaze, astonish and surprise visitors.

The Jaquet-Droz automaton in La Chaux-de-Fonds: The lady Musician by Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz

Le Locle, Musée d’horlogerie – Château des Monts

Automates & merveilles: Chefs d'œuvre de luxe et de miniaturisation

[Masterpieces of luxury and miniaturization]

Starting in the second half of the 18^th century, the miniaturization of mechanical and musical movements gave rise to a new industry. Pierre Jaquet-Droz and his son Henri-Louis occupied a prominent position in this field. The exhibition will present the master clockmakers that worked with the Jaquet-Droz and the heirs to this tradition by tracing their relationships. By miniaturizing mechanisms,these craftsmenwere able to incorporate singing birds, musical boxes or animated scenes into all kinds of objects (e.g. watches, pistols, cages and snuff boxes). They also excelled in the creation of humanoid automata and small mechanical animals. Miniaturization and precious decoration are the key topics developed by the Musée d’horlogerie du Locle (MHL).

The Jaquet-Droz automaton in Le Locle: The Draughtsman by Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz

MONTRES JAQUET DROZ SA

Since Montres Jaquet Droz SA became a subsidiary of Swatch Group in 2000, it has unceasingly perpetuated the history and know-how of the founder,Pierre Jaquet Droz. A product of the Enlightenment, his elegant and travel-oriented philosophy still forms the core of the company's brand identity. The planned exhibition celebrating the work of Pierre Jaquet-Droz, his son Henri-Louis and their colleague Jean-FrédéricLeschotconfirmsthat a close tiestill binds the Enlightenment to the third millennium. Hence whyMontres Jaquet Droz SA decided to support this remarkable project of the association Automates &Merveilles.