Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, May 13, 2007

LOT 451

"Cabinet de Curiosité" Attributed to Eugène Bornand & Cie., Sainte Croix. Made circa 1850. Very fine and extremely rare, gilt brass, 8-day going, musical automaton mantel clock in the ?chinoiserie? style, with hour and half-hour striking, the rotunda scenes rotating on the hour or at will, rosewood base.

CHF 20,000 - 25,000

EUR 12,000 - 15,000 / USD 16,000 - 20,000

Sold: CHF 31,860

C. Gilt brass, matte and burnished, rectangular with anthemion and acanthus leaf cornice and base, foliate and stylized dragon mounts, foliate feet and bezel, the top covered with velvet and mounted with a gilt bronze table with velvet cover, to each side a gilt bronze figure of a Chinese gentleman and lady gesturing to a gilt brass rotunda on the table, an aperture revealing one of six rotating mirrored apertures, some with quarter- models of architectural designs creating the illusion of seeing the whole building, the rotating scenes move one position at each hour, rosewood base with floral inlaid decoration to the front, musical control levers in the side. D. Silvered with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track. Blued steel Breguet hands. Clock movement: circular, gilt brass, going barrels for the going and striking trains, anchor escapement, silk suspension, brass bob pendulum, outside countwheel striking on a bell. Musical movement: rectangular brass, pullwinding, pinned brass cylinder, single steel comb with tuned teeth, tune selection / stop and start levers and pull-wind in the side of the base. Dim. 70 x 33 x 23 cm. Property of an Swiss Gentleman


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-34

Good

Restored by the manufacture
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Bornand The Bornand family, originally from Sainte Croix, Switzerland, was particularly known for its mechanical musical movements. One of its members, A. Bornand, was also a finisher of complicated and high quality watches toward the end of the 19th century. He was a ?régleur? for the firm H. Capt. Eugène Bornand certainly another member of the Bornand dynasty, was recorded as working during the latter half of the 19th century. He is known, among other things, for enamel and gold pendant watches. Dictionnaire des horlogers genevois, Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, 1998. Another very similar clock, but also playing music on the hour was sold by Antiquorum, Geneva, October 15, 2006, lot 350.