Important Collectors' Watches, Pocket...

Geneva, Mar 16, 2008

LOT 20

Mercury Swiss, attributable to Meuron, made for the Italian Market, circa 1790. Very rare and very fine ebonized and gilt wood eight-day-going, bracket clock, striking hours and quarters, repeating with 12-tune music playing on the hour and on demand.

CHF 100,000 - 140,000

USD 90,000 - 130,000 / EUR 60,000 - 85,000

Sold: CHF 120,000

C. Square, molded top with gilt statue of Mercury with his winged helmet and a money pouch in his right hand, two gilt putti at his side, with front decorated over red fabric with applied gilt wood garlands of flowers and scrolling foliate pattern, top with aperture for the dial, lower part with aperture for enamel 12-tune change dial, pierced side panels for sound, the right one with cord to activate the music, the left one with cord to activate the repeater. Bracket with a finial at the bottom and rich gilt wood garland decoration. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute track with five-minute Arabic markers, winding apertures at 4 and 8 o?clock, regulating aperture at 12 o?clock with aperture for setting the pendulum in motion below. Gilt elaborate hands. M. Rectangular, brass, going barrels both for the going and striking trains, verge escapement with silk suspension, rack striking of typical Neuchatel design, pull repeat. Musical movement: double barrel with double fusee set one below the other, 15 poplar pipes, 15 valves, brass pinned cylinder, fly governor with worm gearing. Dim. Height. 106 cm, (140 with the bracket). Base width 55 cm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-45-55-05

Good

Luminous material reapplied

HANDS Luminous material reapplied

Notes

During this period in Switzerland only Jaquet-Droz, the Robert family and Meuron made complicated musical clocks like this one. They were friends and neighbors. Their work is very similar, but there are some significant differences. Jaquet-Droz used pewter for his pipes, Robert used wood; Jaquet-Droz used wooden cylinders, Robert brass ones; Jaquet-Droz used double concentric fusees for his musical movements, Robert and Meuron also used double fusees, but placed one above the other. Robert and Meuron musical clocks with 12 tunes are very rare; most of them have only 8 tunes. The case, with its gilded figures, is also more elaborate than most of his cases. It appears that Meuron gave special attention to this clock, most likely made for one of his important Italian clients.
Mercury was the son of Maia as the result of one of Jupiter's adulterous affairs. Juno nursed the baby. Mercury traveled with his winged helmet, serving as the messenger of the Olympians. He was also a thief and a trickster, and sometimes was called upon for healing. He was a quick, nervous type, and he was known for his strong reasoning and analytical ability. Mercury is God of trade and profit, merchants and travelers. A temple was dedicated to him in Rome near the Circus Maximus on the Aventine Hill which dates back to 495 BC. During the time of the Roman Empire the cult of Mercury was widespread, especially among the Celtic and Germanic peoples. The Celts have their Mercury; the Germans identified him with their Wotan.