L\'ART DE L\'HORLOGERIE EN FRANCE DE ...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 14, 1993

LOT 11

J. Coulomb A Limoges, circa 1630. A fine and very rare small oval gilt-metal and silver cased watch with detachable compass and sundial.

CHF 30,000 - 40,000

Sold: CHF 69,000

C. Three body, the gilt-metal band with applied silver overlay engraved with interlaced initiais ' D' and a spray of foliage (patch of corrosion) silver covers each engraved with an interlaced triple crescent moon. Gilt-metal button finial and cast pendant. The silver horizontal sundial located in the back by four lugs, with double spring clip to retain it in position, with hinged gnomon and inset magnetic compass marked for North/South points with blued-steel needle. D. Oval silver the border engraved with flowers, a winged cherub mask and a putti, with engraved Roman numerals and heart-shaped half hour marks, the centre with a musician seated in a landscape. Single engraved gilt hand. M. Oval, secured by a lockspring and located with four lugs, gilt plates, turned balluster pillars with gut fusee, three wheel train with verge escapement, plain two-arm steel balance, pierced and florally engraved balance cock of irregular outline secured by a pin with matching ratchet wheel setup cock and blued-steel wheel and click spring. Signed on the movement. h1 good condition. Dim. 56 x 30 mm.


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Notes

There is note of a maker - Coulomb -established at Rue des Taules in Limoges in 1678. No initial is given, and clearly the date of the record is almost fifty years after the probable date of manufacture of the watch. It is quite possible that they are one and the same, or perhaps father and son. Watches signed from Limoges are rare. Additionally, this example has a detachable sundial that can be used independently, a far more satisfactory solution than trying to orientate the complete watch. Such removeable sundials are occassionally to be found on watches from the 18th. century.