Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Oct 13, 2001

LOT 594

Punchinello and Two CherubsFranç(ois) L'hardy, Geneva, circa 1810.Rare and unusual 18K gold quarter-repeating watch with three automata.

CHF 15,000 - 20,000

USD 9,000 - 12,000

C. Three-body, "Empire", reeded band, engine-turned back. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. D. White enamel chapter ring with Breguet numerals. Blued steel "Breguet" hands. Glazed three-color gold chased automaton scene applied on a blued steel ground and driven by the repeating train: Punchinello appears on a balcony supported by two columns to strike the hours on a bell. As soon as he has disappeared, two Cherubs below strike the quarters.M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance-spring, gilt brass continental cock with polished steel end-piece. Repeating on two gongs by depressing the pendant.Signed on the dial and back plate.Diam. 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3 - 5 - 6*
Dial: 3 - 13 - 21 - 0

Notes

This watch is published in the Ruscitti book, as no. 56.François L'Hardywas a watchmaker and merchant of the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. He is recorded as having made automaton watches, and repetition and skeleton watches.Dictionnaire des horlogers genevois, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.