Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 15, 1994

LOT 408

M. Girard à Bloye, circa 1600. Very fine and rare gilt brass mounted rock crystal clock watch.

CHF 70,000 - 80,000

C. Three body, octagonal, the side divided into eight flat panels, the back carved into eight panels with a flat centre. GiIt brass lid pierced and engraved with inhabited foliage, the top glazed with hinged bezel. Chased pendant and turned finial. D. Silver with Roman numerals, the centre engraved with foliage and a Cupid seated under a tree. Blued steel single hand. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with turned baluster pillars, going train with engraved gilt brass fixed barre) with going arbor, short train, verge escapement, plain steel two-arm balance without spring, irregular foliage pierced gilt brass cock secured by a pin. Striking train with similar standing barre), gilt brass count wheel pierced and engraved with foliage, hour striking on a bell housed beneath the dial. Signed on the back plate. In very good condition. Dim. 76 x 40 mm.


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Notes

Previously in the Pierpont Morgan collection, this watch was before in the Marfels collection under the No. 1393. 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. Il in the real vellum edition, No. III in the Japanese vellum edition and No. VI 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 stil) living in 1674. He was the brother-in-law of the well known watchmaker Abraham Yver from Angoulême.