Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 17, 1992

LOT 248

(Piguet & Capt), Geneva, circa 1805. Extremely fine, 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl-set snuff-box, with a watch and a scene with four automatons.

C. Rectangular, on the central cover, in a half moon splitpearl frame, Ceres, the divinity of fertility, sat on her cart and holding a cornucopia, is finely painted on the enamel panel. Small covers on each sides, with applied chased gold figures over a black enamelled ground, disclose the watch on the left and the automaton scene on the right. The bottom and the side panels are of blue translucent enamel over engine-turning (slightly restored), with further blue and black champleve enamelled palm leaf decoration and four Jures on each side of the front and the rear panels. D. White enamel with Arabic numerals and separate subsidiary seconds. Blued steel lance hands. The blue enamelled dial-plate with champleve decoration. M. Rectangular, gilt brass full plate, with cylindrical pillars, going barrel, cylInder escapement with plain gilt brass three armed balance, flat balance spring and steel endpiece. Depicting the Forge of Venus, the three couloured gold automaton scene has on the foreground a Cupid pumping the bellow, the fire is burning in the forge, white another Cupid is hammering the weapons of Venus. A windmill is turning on the background, in the painted enamelled landscape. In good condition. Dim. 80 x 35 x 15 mm.