Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Jun 27, 2009

LOT 209

Venus & Cupid Clockwatch Jaquet Droz, London. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1785. Very fine and extremely rare, two-train, quarter-striking, gold, painted on enamel, pearl and ruby-set clockwatch with shuttered winding and cylinder escapement.

HKD 250,000 - 350,000

USD 35,000 - 50,000 / EUR 25,000 - 35,000

Sold: HKD 300,000

C. Two-body, sprung and hinged bezel set with half-pearls alternating with rubies, band decorated with dark blue, turquoise and white enamel panels with gold paillons, the reverse decorated with a painted on enamel scene of Venus and Cupid in a gold paillon border, outer border of dark blue translucent guilloché enamel, half-pearl surround and ruby-set outer border, shuttered winding holes opened and closed by a button in the back of the case. Gilt metal dust cap. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minutes/seconds divisions. Pierced gold Jaquet Droz hands. M. 39 mm., matte gilt, full plate, cylindrical pillars, two-train with going barrels, cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance, pierced and chased continental balance, diamond endstone, silvered regulation dial, strike/not strike selection lever in the dial plate. Dust cap signed. Diam. 53 mm


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-32

Good

Slightly restored
Movement: 3

Good
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Pierre Jaquet-Droz (1721-1790) Born on July 28, 1721 in La Chaux-de- Fonds, he was the son of a farmer who was an occasional clockmaker as well. He studied humanities and philosophy in Basel from 1738 to 1739 and then became interested in horology. On October 25, 1750, Pierre Jaquet- Droz married Marianne Sandoz, the daughter of Civil Lieutenant AbrahamLouis Sandoz. At the age of thirty-four, Pierre Jaquet- Droz was left a widower. He never remarried. In 1758, Jaquet-Drozmade the long and difficult journey to Spain, to present his works to King Ferdinand VI. When he returned, the sum he brought back enabled him to devote himself to the making of the famous Jaquet-Droz automata, the writer, draughtsman, and musician, and to found the successful Jaquet- Droz firm, in London and Geneva, which made extraordinary mechanical and musical pieces. Pierre Jaquet-Droz died in Biel in 1790.
Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz (1752-1791) Was the second child of Pierre Jaquet-Droz and his wife Marianne. His father sent him to Nancy when he was young to study music, science, mathematics, physics and drawing. Upon his return from Nancy in 1769, Henry-Louis took his place in his father's workshop, alongside Jean-Frédéric Leschot (1746-1824), a neighbor child who had come to live and work with Pierre around 1756. This was the beginning of a close and fruitful partnership between the threemen. When Pierre Jaquet-Droz grew old, the firm was taken over by his son Henry-Louis and Jean-Frédéric Leschot, and was called Jaquet- Droz & Leschot. Henri Maillardet was the director of the London branch of the Jaquet- Droz firm that was opened in 1783, although Henri-Louis traveled often to London to look after business. The Jaquet Droz company moved to Geneva, center of the "Fabrique", in 1784. Upon his father's retirement from the family firm, Henry- Louis naturally replaced him, traveling to London to look after business. He also maintained an active interest in the Société des Arts. Henry-Louis' health was poor, however, and he died in Naples in November 1791, at the early age of 41. Subsequently, Jean Frédéric Leschot took over the firm.
Literature: For an article on Jaquet Droz, see: Antiquorum Vox Magazine, Spring 2005.