The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 170

HéloïseDufour & Fol, Genève, enamel attributable to Dufour & Lechet, circa 1795.Very fine 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl-set quarter repeating watch with automaton Jacks, made for the Spanish market.

CHF 12,000 - 16,000

USD 7,000 - 9,500

Sold: CHF 20,700

C. Two-body, 'Directoire', the back with a finely painted lady sitting by a vase with paillon flowers set with half pearls and rose-cut diamonds against imperial blue translucent enamel over engine-turning, bezels set with half pearls, the band engraved in a geometrical pattern and pierced to let the sound out. D. Small, white enamel with Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions, fifteen-minute Arabic figures. Gold 'arrow' hands. Dial set in the centre of an azure enamel plate with gold foliageecoration and flanked by the varicoloured gold automaton Jacks: a Cupid a young lady in a classical dress, both holding hammers which strike the bells during repeating, a dog in the foreground. M. 50 mm o, hinged, gilt brass circular pillar plate, crescent-shaped to allow for the two bells, round pillars, going barrel under the bells, cylinder escapement, brass escape wheel, plain brass three-arm brass balance, flat balance spring, repeating on two bells by depressing the pendant.Signed on the movement, the bells signed Scherer.Diam. 56 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, page 160-161.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 22
Movement: 3 - 5 - 6*
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

Dufour, Fol Lot Ciewas established in 1795 by Pierre Dufour and a watchmaker named Fol. Dufour belonged to a family of watchmakers attached to Geneva, and in about 1770, due to conflicts within the Genevan government, he went into exile, and joined Voltaire's Fabrique Royale de Ferney, later known as the Grand Comptoir, of which he and his brother-in-law Louis Ceret were managers. In 1795, three years after transferring the Grand Comptoir to Benedict Ceret, Louis' son, Dufour created the new partnership.Literature: 'Ferney-Voltaire, Pages d'histoire', published by the Cercle d'études ferneysiennes - Académie Candide, pp. 225-226.