11,400 CHF
Oriental and Two Cherubs Franç(ois) L'hardy, Geneva. Made circa 1810. Very fine, extremely rare and unusual, 18K gold, quarterrepeating pocket watch with four automata actions. Three-body, "Empire", reeded band, engine-turned back. Gilt brass cuvette hinged to the movement ring. Annular white enamel chapter ring with Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions. Blued steel serpentine hands. Glazed three-color gold chased automaton scene applied on a blued steel ground and driven by the repeating train: an Oriental gentleman appears on a balcony supported by two columns to strike the hours on a bell. As soon as he has disappeared, two Cherubs below strike the quarters. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance-spring, gilt brass continental cock with polished steel end-piece, repeating on two gongs activated by depressing the pendant. Dial and cuvette signed. Diam. 57 mm. Notes This is very unusual amongst striking Jacks watches. This type of watch is so rare that Alfred Chapuis and Edmond Droz found only a movement to illustrate it in their book “Les Automates”, p. 180. François L'hardy (also Lhardy or Lardy). A watchmaker recorded at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, he made automaton watches, repeating watches, and skeleton watches.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2009-10-04
