Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 13, 2012

LOT 218

BAILLON - THE HARVEST SURPRISE Baillon à Paris, No. 8689. Made circa 1760. Very fine, rare and amusing, Louis XV, gold and painted on enamel pocket watch.

CHF 12,000 - 16,000

USD 13,000 - 17,500 / EUR 10,000 - 13,000

C. Two-body, Louis XV, the bezel chased with a repeated bead and reel pattern, the back cover decorated with a fi nely painted on enamel scene of a monk arriving at the monastery with a large sheaf of wheat on his back, he is greeted by two brothers at the door, concealed within the wheatsheaf is a young lady, her face and blue shoes peeping out. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track and large Arabic fi ve-minute numerals. Fine pierced gold Louis XV hands. M. 36 mm, gilt brass full plate, hexagonal baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement with micrometric potence adjustment, fi nely pierced and chased foliate continental balance cock with polished steel endplate, large silvered regulation dial. Movement signed. Diam. 44 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-71-01

Very good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Hairlines

HANDS Original

Notes

Lot 218 - A fi ne example of the type of high quality enamelled watch Baillon is renowned for. This particular scene could be described a ?semi-erotic? and is certainly suggestive and amusing to contemplate. Jean Baptiste III Albert Baillon (d. 1772) Was made ?Valet de Chambre?Horloger Ordinaire de la Reine? in 1727, ?Premier Valet de Chambre de la Reine? (before1748), then ?Premier Valet de Chambre? and ?Valet de Chambre-Horloger Ordinaire de la Dauphine Marie-Antoinette? in 1770. He was established in the Place Dauphine in 1738 and the rue Dauphine after 1751. Jean-Baptiste III Baillon was one of the most important clockmakers of the 18th century, in terms of the extent of his business, and an extremely wealthy man. Berthoud described his establishment as: ?the fi nest and richest Clock Shop? and said that his house in Saint-Germain was ?a kind of Factory. It is full of Workmen continually laboring for him? for he alone makes a large proportion of the Clocks and Watches (of Paris).? Joseph Quetin Received as master casemaker on May 5, 1742. Established Rue de la Huchette in 1743, and place du Marché Neuf in 1747. Retired to Châtillon-sur-Loire in 1772, giving up his mastership offi cially in 1775. He supplied cases to royaux d?Art et d?Histoire in Brussels, and others. F. Baillon, J.B. Baillon, Chalon, Du Four, Frédéric Duval, J.J. Gudin, and Julien Le Roy. His work is in the Louvre, in the Musées