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

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 14, 1993

LOT 50

Vayringe à Luneville, circa 1720. Extremely rare and seemingly unique gilt brass Louis XIV "oignon", with special escapement.

CHF 20,000 - 25,000

Sold: CHF 20,700

C.Double body, oignon, engraved with scrolls and inhabited foliage. D. Embossed white enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring ( slightly restored on the border). Gold and bluedsteel hands. M. Hinged gilt brass full plate with turned baluster pillars, long and thin fusee with chain. Highly unusual anchor escapement of "tictac" type, plain gilt brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass Louis XIV cock, pierced and engraved with inhabited foliage. Signed on the back plate. In good condition. Diam. 58 mm.


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Notes

This watch is described and illustrated by A Chapiro in: La Montre Française, Editions de l' Amateur, page 96. Philippe Vayringe, moved from Luneville to Nancy in 1720, where he gave lectures on mechanics, and was appointed as "Horloger Mécanicien" by the Duc Léopold. He made a series of scientific instruments for the "Chambre des Machines" from 1726 to 1728. According to Thiout l'Aîné, in his Traité de l'Horlogerie Mécanique et Pratique, he was later appointed as watchmaker by Son Altesse Royale the Grand Duc de Toscane and made several items for his "Cabinet de Curiosité" in Florence.