10,620 CHF
“Deck Chronometer” Henri Motel, Horloger de la Marine, Paris, No. 276. Made circa 1850. Very fine and rare, marine deck watch with pivoted detent escapement. Three-tier mahogany deck watch box, the lid with ivory signature plaque, brass case en forme de tabatière secured inside the mahogany box, screwed-down glazed bezel. Matte silvered, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. Brass, fusee with Harrison’s maintaining power and chain under separate bridge, another for the train, escapement in duo-plan arrangement, Motel’s pivoted detent escapement of Louis Berthoud design, four-arm cut bimetallic balance with sliding temperature adjustment weights, free-sprung blued steel conical balance spring, jeweled impulse with protection strip, locking and unlocking pallets, escape wheel teeth with pin holes for oil retention. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 17.5 x 14.5 x 8.6 cm. Notes This is an excellent example of the final development of Motel’s chronometers, with the final shape of the fusee curve, the isochronous conical balance spring, and a superbly finished escapement with curved studs, jeweled and capped balance and escape wheel, with ruby locking, unlocking, and impulse jewels. Henri Motel (1786-1859) The best known of Berthoud’s pupils, Jean-François Henri Motel, was born at Margny-les-Compiegne on 31 December 1786. His father, Louis Nicolas Motel, was both tavern-keeper and farmer. In 1794, after his prelimin
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2007-10-14
