Important collector's watches, wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Apr 13, 2002

LOT 230

Henri Motel, Paris, No. 3, circa 1850. Very fine, ebonized center-seconds month-going mantel regulator with mean and solar time, annual calendar and visible escapement.

CHF 30,000 - 40,000

EUR 20,000 - 28,000 / USD 18,000 - 24,000

Sold: CHF 50,600

C. Rectangular, glazed on four sides, front and back sliding panels, column corners inlaid with brass pattern, cornice and molded base with inlaid brass strip. D. White enamel Roman hour chapter, outer minute/seconds divisions, center set with escapement, gilt brass molded bezel, below to the right white enameled dial with days of the week and date, symmetrically to the left enamel equation dial with Roman numerals, both in gilt brass molded frames, between silvered month dial mounted directly on the annual wheel. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Brass, large going barrel, Brocot escapement with jeweled pallets, massive gridiron pendulum with micrometric beat adjustment set on the crutch, unusual mechanism driving the seconds via an additional wheel set on the 4th wheel driven by a small spiral spring, calendar and equation mechanisms set below. Dim. Height 66 cm, width 36 cm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-13-01

Good

Slightly damaged

HANDS Original

Notes

It appears that Motel made only a very few clock regulators, judging by the serial number, perhaps only three. Only this one is known to have survived. The clock dates from the end of the Egyptian Revival period. It is illustrated in J.-C. Sabrier?s "La Longitude en mer à l'heure de Louis Berthoud et de Henri Motel", Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1993, p. 633.