THE "AUTOMATES & MERVEILLES " ASSOCIATION

The idea of an exhibition germinated from the presence of the historic automata constructed by Pierre and Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz in 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-Fonds and the Musée d’horlogerie du Locle-Château des Monts came together to present an exhibition on three outstanding masters of 18th-century clockmaking: Pierre Jaquet-Droz, his son Henri-Louis and their colleague Jean-Frédéric Leschot.

Originally from the Neuchâtel Mountains, the Jaquet-Droz father and son team made a reputation for themselves as brilliant inventors and astute businessmen.

They were famous in Europe and world-wide for producing luxury goods characterized by the purity and elegance of their design. Among these remarkable objects were pieces of jewelry with miniaturized mechanisms, musical clockwork automata, such as singing birds, and clocks with automata, including humanoid automata.

To highlight the Jaquet-Droz and Leschot genius, as well as their quest for answers – something that connects them to today's world – the three museums decided to share their expertise and collections in order to mount an exhibition enriched by many exceptional pieces on loan from private 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 18th to the 21st century.

THE EXHIBITION
The Automates & merveilles exhibition (From April, 28th to September, 30th 2012)will be divided into three sections. Each museum will explore one aspect of the life and times of the Jaquet-Droz family that is covered by its own collections.

It will use one of the three humanoid automata preserved at the Musée d’art et d’histoire de Neuchâtel to introduce this aspect. Two of the automata will relocate from their home museum to partner museums for the occasion.

NEUCHATEL, Musée d’art et d’histoire: the Jaquet-Droz family and Leschot

LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS, Musée international d’horlogerie: Marvellous movements….amazing mechanisms

LE LOCLE, Musée d’horlogerie – Château des Monts: Masterpieces of luxury and miniaturization

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-Frédéric Leschot confirms that a close tie still binds the Enlightenment to the third millennium. Hence why Montres Jaquet Droz SA decided to support this remarkable project of the association Automates & Merveilles.