Dr. Sandrine Girardier, Historian and Museum Curator, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Grégoire Boillat, Montres Jaquet Droz Museum Curator and Watchmaker-Rhabilleur, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
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Jaquet Droz has an incredible history that includes more than just timepieces. Founded in 1738, the Swiss manufacture is well-known for its prodigious androids, fashionable birdcages and pocket watches with animated scenes. Jaquet Droz's amazing automatons complement their watch and clock expertise, making their work very desirable for collectors around the world.
Pierre Jaquet-Droz was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in 1721. Jaquet-Droz founded a watchmaking workshop and grew it through a combination of technical, artistic and commercial skills enabling it to reach international markets. His son Henri-Louis further developed the family business and diversified production. At this time, a significant portion of the manufacture's work found its way to Chinese dignitaries.
At the May 2021 meeting of the Horological Society of New York, Dr. Sandrine Girardier will discuss the main phases of the careers of Pierre and Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz during the second half of the 18th century. Dr. Girardier's lecture will be enhanced by live demonstrations of special collection pieces currently at the Jaquet Droz Maison with Watchmaker-Rhabilleur Grégoire Boillat.
About Dr. Sandrine Girardier
Sandrine Girardier was born in 1983 in Lugano, Switzerland. After completing her university studies in Neuchâtel, she began preparing a thesis in history dedicated to the watchmakers Jaquet-Droz and Leschot and obtained her doctorate in 2018. As a museum curator, she has been devoting herself for more than 10 years to the management of collections and the creation of exhibitions. In her work as a freelance historian, she also specializes in various heritage collections, as well as undertaking cultural and educational activities, all while continuing research and publication.
About Grégoire Boillat
Grégoire Boillat was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. After completing a Watchmaker-Rhabilleur degree in Le Locle he started his career by working on the production lines of a famous chronometer brand, and mastering many watch manufacturing processes. He then specialized in customer service and vintage watch restoration. Grégoire is also a part-time teacher in the Le Locle watchmaking school, and has been working for Jaquet Droz for 10 years. His passion for the brand and antique pieces gave him the opportunity to be the curator of the brand’s museum collection, and he is now in charge of the demonstrations, new acquisitions and customer support for vintage and antique pieces.
HSNY lectures will be streamed live via Zoom for the foreseeable future. All lectures remain free and open to the public.