Important Watches, Wristwatches and c...

Geneva, Apr 20, 1996

LOT 258

Louis Duchene et Fils, (Geneva), circa 1800. "Le Theatre". Very fine and extremely rare 18 ct. gold and enamel, musical automaton watch.

CHF 0 - 0

Sold: CHF 366,500

C. Double body, Directoire, with glazed back. D. White enamel with Breguet numerals (slightly restored). Blued steel "spade" hands. Exceptional automaton scene on the reverse, depicting a fine painted enamel Swiss landscape with an applied four coloured gold theatre on the foreground with four statues painted en grisaille in niches between colonnades and two dancing couples revolving on the stage below the dome, in front of a mirror, two further automaton musicians on each side of the stage, play the harp and beat time to the music. M. Two trains inverted gilt brass full plate. Going train with going barrel, cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring with regulator. Musical train driving the automata, with pin-cylinder an six pair of steel blades. Signed on the dial. In very good condition. Diam. 62 mm.


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Notes

Alongside the "Moses" watch and the "Tightrope Dancer", The "Theatre" watches may be considered as the rarest automaton watches. To date, no more than four are known to have survived, all different from each other, including the watch now offered for sale. The three others are described and illustrated by A. Chapuis and E. Gelis in Le Monde des Automates, pages 53 to 56, one previously in the G. Loup Collection is now in the Sandoz Collection on loan to the Locle Museum in the Chateau des Monts, another was in the Sir David Salomons Collection, the location of the third one, previously in the Gelis Collection, is not known.