M. Girard à Bloye, circa 1600. Very fine and rare gilt brass watch, richly decorated with silver in damascened work. | Important Watches, Wristwatches and Clocks | Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, 15th October 1994

Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 15, 1994

LOT 407

M. Girard à Bloye, circa 1600. Very fine and rare gilt brass watch, richly decorated with silver in damascened work.

CHF 55,000 - 65,000

C. Three body oval with gilt brass pendant, finials and hinges, with silver panels entirely engraved in the style of Etienne Delaune. The cover depicting a female figure with two wings, having birds on either side and rabbits at the base. The back showing a male figure with vases on either side and mascaws at the base. The decoration of silver around the frame of the watch depicts a hunting scene. AII the silver panels are enclosed by edges of gilt metal. The inside of the lid is lightly engraved with a device representing a vase of flowers within an oval floral border, inside of the back is a sundial with movable folding open-work gnomon and a compass in a small glazed circular case. D. Silver chapter ring with Roman numerals applied on a gilt brass dial-plate engraved with cherubs, insects, squirrels and arabesque work, while in the centre of the dial ring is a landscape with a water-mill and houses. Blued steel single hand. M. GiIt brass full plate with urn pillars, fusee with gut line, verge escapement, twoarm balance without spring, irregular foliage pierced gilt brass cock secured by a pin, ratchet and wheel set-up regulator matching with blued steel ratchet wheel and spring. Signed on the back plate. In very good condition. Dim. 72 x 38 mm.

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Believed to have corne from the Soltykoff collection, this watch was formerly in the Marferl collection with No. 1369. It is described and illustrated by in the Catalogue of the collection of Watches, the property of J. Pierpont Morgan, compiled at his request by G. C. Williamson, No. 4 in the real vellum edition, No. 3 in the Japanese vellum edition and No. V in the ordinary edition. Marc Girard the father, coming from Germany, arrived in Blois in 1593. At the beginning his signature was Gerrart or Gyrardt, he married Anne, the daughter of the carpenter François Papin, the grandfather of the celebrated physician Denis Papin. Master in 1598. He is believed to have been Protestant, because the references of the baptism of his children in Blois between 1601 and 1615 are recorded in the "'Etats Protestantes Civiles de Blois". His son, Marc Girard the younger, was born in 1628, and was still living in 1674. He was the brother-in-law of the well known watchmaker Abraham Yver from Angoulême.