Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 10, 1994

LOT 362

Not signed, "Examined by Cornelius Harris, 252 Wandsworth Road", Swiss, circal820. Extremely rare and fine 18ct. gold and enamel Tightrope Walker automaton watch with musical and quarter-repeating trains.

CHF 200,000 - 250,000

C. Three-body, "forme quatre baguettes, engine turned. Hinged gilt-metal cuvette. D. Small engineturned gold dial with Roman numerals on a plane chapter ring. Blued-steel "spade" hands. Dial plate of gold enamelled with a finely painted lake side landscape, mountains on the back ground, varicoloured gilt figures of musicians flanking the dial, the gentleman playing a lyre, the lady a lute, their arms moving in time with the music, and suspended between the trees is a thin gold "rop" upon which the Tightrope walker balances holding a pole in his arms; as the music plays, he bounces on the rope, moving the other leg and the pole to maintain his equilibrium. M. Frosted and gilt half plate, duplex escapement with plain three-arm brass balance and flat balance spring with jewelled coqueret. Cylinder musical train playing on the hour or at will, with 29 tooth comb grouped in pairs, and covered by an engraved and gilt plate. Quarter-repeating on two gongs by depressing the pendant. Music set-off and pendant lock in the case band. Signed on the movement. In very good condition. Diam. 62mm.


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Notes

Alongside the "Moses" watch, the Tightrope walker may be considered as the rarest of automaton watches made in the area of Neuchâtel. To date no more than 6 examples are known to have survived, including the watch now offered for sale, with two at least of these being in museum collections. AII are slightly different in detail, most notably the enamel subjects, and this example is the equal of any for quality of workmanship throughout. A similar watch was sold in this room on 17 October 1993, lot 355. Literature: Chapuis et Gelis, Le Monde des Automates, Paris, 1928, Vol. Il, p. 53, fig. 325. Chapuis et Droz, Les Automates, Neuchâtel, 1949, p.184, figs. 197-199. (Sandoz Collection, also illustrated in the Château des Monts Catalogue).