57,500 CHF
Attributable to the workshop of Piguet & Meylan, Geneva, circa 1815. La Forge de CupidonVery fine and rare 18K gold and enamel snuff box with automaton scene, in a later fitted box. Rectangular with canted corners, dark blue enamelled base and side panels, borders and corners with champlevé enamelled decoration, the cover decorated en suite , the automaton aperture within an hexagonal gold frame engraved with sunflower decoration over a matted ground. The spring loaded shutters chased with an urn and baskets of flowers. Applied on a file enamel painted landscape, the four coloured gold automaton scene, features three cherubs busily working in a forge: one is forging weapns for Venus while another sharps the arrows and the third keeps the fire going in the forge. Brass square full plate with cylindrical pillars, going barrel, driving the automata by means of cams and levers.Dim. 80 x 50 x 20 mm. Notes Piguet & MeylanAfter the end of his association with Henri-Daniel Capt, from 1811 to 1828, he formed a new partnership with Philippe Samuel Meylan, another native from his own village. They used to work with the company name Piguet & Meylan, but, working mainly for important English dealers trading with China, most of their watches are not signed, although they carry their trademark: PM in a diamond-shaped frame, punched on the front plate beneath the dial. In 1828, just before the end of their partnership, thir premises were at 45, rue Rousseau in Geneva.Philippe Samuel Mey
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1999-11-13
