Acquisition of art work: hydraulic sawmill model

This exceptional wood and metal hydraulic sawmill model, dating from the beginning of the 20^th century, has probably been made by a sawmill worker.

The wooden base, imitating fine-jointed cut stone, supports a terrace which is surrounded by a colonnade structure protecting a waterwheel. 

The waterwheel powers the saw through pulley combination hidden in the wooden base, reproducing pitsawyers movement. The saw is connected to a carriage which runs on rails to automatically move the log.

Hydraulic sawmills were still very common in France during the first half of the 20^th century. This model, whom mechanism still functions, is an idealized sawmill because a sawmill structure can’t have been built with so many thin decorative architectural features. The scaled-down sawmill has regained all of its splendor thanks to the work of François Timoleonthos, marquetry artist in Nevers.