21,850 CHF
The Repeating “Souscription” Jean Georges Herbst à Varsovie, No. 352/7899, circa 1825. Fine and very rare 18K gold quarter-repeating “souscription” type watch with ruby cylinder escapement and special repetition system. Four-body, “forme quatre baguettes”, engine-turned, reeded band, gilded hinged cuvette with winding aperture, repeater blocking bolt at 1 o’clock. White enamel, Breguet numerals, outer 5-minute divisions. Single blued-steel hand. 57.5 mm. (25 1/2’’’) gilded, center barrel, four-wheel train, balance jeweled, ruby cylinder escapement with ruby insert, gilt three-arm balance, blued steel flat balance spring, compensation curb, parachute on the top pivot, all-or-nothing repetition with a single cam (Jaquet-Droz style). Signed on the cuvette. Diam. 63 mm. Notes Jan Jerzy Herbst (1784 – 1843). One of the most successful of Warsaw watchmakers, he finished his apprenticeship in 1809 and on July 30, 1809 became free of the Guild upon the interesting condition that he would “marry a daughter of watchmaker Michal Krantz”. His masterpieces, made in 1811, were an 8 day repeating table clock with days of the week and date and a “minute watch” (minute-repeating watch?). In 1813 he is recorded as working with Krantz at Krakowskie Przedmiescie. After 1836 he was established in the former workshop of his father-in-law, and owned the entire building. He financed many projects and lent money to members of the Polish aristocracy, such as Count Korwin Kossakowski or Count Hen
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-04-12
