A TRIBUTE TO PRECISION AND COMPLICATE...

Hotel Nogalhilton Geneve, Nov 11, 2001

LOT 5

Timekeeper with 1 ComplicationThe Soldier's WelcomeJaques Decour, London, circa 1740.Very fine 22K gold pair-cased quarter-repeating and à tact watch.

C. Outer: two-body, the back repoussé depicting welcoming of a soldier by two women, pierced and repoussé bezels with flowers and scrolling alternating with four vignettes - two depicting scenes from La Fontaine (1621-1691) and two with a man's and a lady's bust. Inner: two-body, "bassine", with deep back, band pierced and engraved with inhabited foliage, mask at six o'clock, polished back with small engraved rosette in the center, silver dust cap. D. Gold, champlevé Roman hour chapter, outer miute ring with five-minute Arabic markers, applied gold scrolling decoration at the center over blued steel plate. Blued steel "beetle and poker" hands. M. 37 mm, gilt brass full plate with turned baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain three-arm brass balance, blued steel flat balance spring, silver cock with small streamers pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage, repeating on bell by depressing the pendant, small lever at 7 o'clock to change to tactile repeating.Signed on the dial, back plate and the dust cap.Diam. 54 mm.