Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 17, 1992

LOT 358

Janvier, France, made in 1780, restored in 1819. Extremely rare and very fine mahogany, weight driven, moon phase astronomical, 8 day mantel regulator with equation of time.

CHF 180,000 - 220,000

Sold: CHF 149,250

C. Rectangular frame with ebony inlay, on ogee moulded base with gilt bun feet, glazed on three sides with hinged solid back door, surmounted by a three pad pediment. D. Silvered chapter with Arabic minute ring, outer annual calendar with dates and months, subsidiary silvered chapters for the days of the week with inner aperture for their relative signs, the seconds, and the age of the moon with inner moon phase aperture, inner small central silverd equation minute disc, small hour sector aperture with Roman numeral volvelle and sliding aperture to adjust the annual calendar. GiIt brass dial plate with the motto in latin: Truditur dies die, Novaeque pergunt interire linae. Blued steel spade hands. M. Brass rectangular, with square pillars, powered by two weights off the same barrel, pin wheel escapement, half second beating pendulum with mahogany wood rod with knife edge suspension. Signed on the dial plate. In very good condition. Dim. 45 x 25 x 17 cm.


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Notes

Made by Antide Janvier as soon as 1780, as it is engraved on the dial plate, restored and certainly upgraded by himself in 1819, this clock is fittedt with a very convenient and esthetically pleasant solution to indicate the equatIon of time. Operated by a differential gearing, a conventional mechanism would require the clock to have 5 hands, all virtually at the same length. By reversing the rote of hand and dial, the minutes of the mean and solar time, can be read directly on the inner part of the chapter ring and on the central disc, with a single hand. Previously in the Hans Von Bertele collection, this regulator is described and illustrated in Klaus Erbrich: Prâzisionspendeluhren, Callwey, page 164, fig. 261-