Magnificent Illuminated/Automated Musical Gemstone and Gold Carousel by Andreas von Zadora-Gerlof


Circa 1991 This unique and extraordinary gemstone and gold carousel includes a fiber optic lighting system, fully automated movement and interactive sound system with CD player all housed in the hand-painted base decorated with cherub motifs. Commissioned directly by Mr. Cafesjian from the artist, this object d'art required 960 hours of stone sculpting and cutting, 3250 hours of gold-smithing and 210 hours of stone setting to complete. It contains the following materials: 62ozt of 14K yellow gold; 16 ozt of 18K yellow gold; 9.0 cts of white diamonds; 3.5 cts of yellow diamonds; 1.1 cts of pink diamonds; 5.8 cts of ruby; 20.0 cts of emerald; 3.5 cts of sapphire, 26 white opal cabochons. The carousel superstructure was constructed of the following materials listed in order of volume used: lapis lazuli, Afghanistan; rhodonite, Australia; Kascholong opal, Russia; malachite, Democratic Republic of Congo; grey agate, Brazil. The carousel includes the following animals: a green beryl frog; a citrine lion; a smoky quartz giraffe; a dark red tourmaline seamonster; an aquamarine-morganite seahorse; an orthoclase ostrich; a multicolored tourmaline rooster; a smoky quartz elephant; a rutilated quartz bear; a rose quartz pig; a smoky quartz horse; a milk-white rock crystal horse; an amethyst swan; and amethyst horse; a rutilated smoky quartz tiger; and a smoky quartz with green tourmaline cat. Height of carousel overall: 17 1/2in (44.5 cm). Diameter inclusive of rock crystal base approximately 20in. Height overall inclusive of wooden bases: 67 inches.
|Commissioned from the artist by the owner, Gerard L. Cafesjian, in 1989 and completed in 1991.Accompanied by a photocopy of a receipt from Andreas von Zadora-Gerlof itemizing the materials used in the Carousel. Exhibition History: The Forbes Magazine Galleries exhibition, "Objects of Desire", November, 1992. Published References: The Art in Sculpted Gems of Andreas von Zadora-Gerlof. Highlights from The Forbes Magazine Galleries exhibition, November, 1992. Baron Andreas von Zadora-GerlofCanadian-born artist Baron Andreas von Zadora-Gerlof, is a master of the stone carving art called Glyptography. Known simply as Zadora, the Baron is famous among an elite circle for creating naturalistic animal carvings and timepieces. His career in Decorative Arts has paralleled those of the historic ateliers of Johan Melchior Dinglinger, Benvenuto Cellini and Peter Carl Fabergé rather than any modern day jeweler. His private relationships with his patrons throughout the world make him a unique contributor to contemporary art history, undoubtedly influential, although rarely in public view.The first American exhibition of the artist's work was presented at the Forbes Magazine Galleries in New York in 1992 and his works have also been exhibited at the Park Avenue Armory for the benefit of the Wildlife Conservation.