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

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 14, 1993

LOT 9

Gribelin à Blois, circa 1620. Fine and rare gilt brass hour-striking coach watch with alarm.

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

Sold: CHF 69,000

C. Double body, "forme collier" with loose-ring pendant, the flat band pierced and engraved with scrolled foliage, plain back with winding shutters. Engraved loose-ring pendant and turned button finial. D. Gilt brass dial-plate finely engraved with foliage and flowers on a hatched ground, with applied gilt brass chapter ring with Roman numerals, the inner silver alarm setting ring with quatrefoil pierced centre. Single hand (excellent replacement). M. Hinged gilt brass full plate secured by a latch, with turned urn pillars, fusee with gut-line, verge escapement, plain steel twoarm steel balance without spring, irregular florally pierced and engraved cock secured by a pin, ratchet wheel set-up with matching gilt brass click and blued-steel spring, striking train with florally pierced fixed barrel and engraved count wheel on the back plate. Strike and alarm trains with blued-steel stop-work on the back plate, each with decorative pierced and engraved gilt brass cock. Striking and alarm on a bell (old repair). Signed on the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 83 mm.


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Notes

At the present time it is probably impossible to decide with any certainty wether this watch is the work of Simon Gribelin, the founder of a veritable dynasty of craFtsmen, or his son Abraham; circa 1625, both were established in Blois. The somewh at formai style of the excellent engraving on the case and dial could perhaps point to the father. Simon Gribelin was established in Blois in 1588, where he married Rebecca Maupas in 1593. They had several daughters and two sons, Abraham, who ?,vas later to become clockmaker to the King, and Isaac, who practised as an enamel painter. He was clearly an important figure in the local watchmaking conununity, his name being frequently recorded in court and civil records. Simon Gribelin died some time shortly after 1633. Sevententh-century French coach watches are something of a rarity, and the majority of surviving examples can be dated to the middle of the century. This watch although of diminutive proportions by comparison with some, would appear to be the earliest known French watch of such size. For further details of Grihelin's work see: E. Develle, Les Horlogers Blésois, Paris 1910.