Important Collectors Wristwatches, P...
Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 20, 1991
LOT 54
Père Bouhelier, No. 773, French Franche- Comtée, circa 1810. Rare silver, quarter repeating watch with a special caliber and escapement.
CHF 3,500 - 4,000
Sold: CHF 3,680
C. Three body, "forme quatre baguettes" polished with reeded band. Gilt brass hinged cuvette. D. White enamel with Breguet numerals. Later gilt hands. M. Frosted and gilt, special one-piece bridge caliber, 15 jewels, straight line lever escapement of early type with brass 'scape wheel and polished steel pallets, plain three armed balance, blued-steel balance spring. Repeating on gongs by a pull-twist piston through the pendant. Signed on the cuvette. In good condition; Diam. 55 mm.
Notes
Père Bouhelier wasnativetoSallntju ien,asmall village
near Charquemont,inFranche Comté where the name
was very conunon. Although mostly farmers, the
population made cylinder escapements in winter
tune, for both the French and the Swiss makers.
It is interesting to note that the few watches, known
from this maker are all constructed with this very
unusual caliber and all set with the sanie type of
straight line lever escapement. As Père Bouhelier was
a priest who emigrated to England during the French
Revolution, it iscertainlyduingthisenforced exilethat
he learned houe to make the lever escapements.