Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 11, 2012

LOT 410

DUBOIS & COMPAGNIE "THE STUBBORN MULE" AUTOMATON WATCH Dubois & Comp. (Neuchatel), No. 299. Made circa 1820 Very fine and extremely rare, large, 18K pink gold and painted on enamel, quarter-repeating and automaton pocket watch, the three automaton actions activated by the repeating.

CHF 40,000 - 60,000

USD 43,000 - 65,000 / EUR 33,000 - 50,000

C. Three-body, Empire, reeded bezel and band, the back cover engine-turned and with reeded border to match the bezel, sliding bolt at 2 to lock the repeating. Gilded metal cuvette hinged to the movement ring. D. Small gold with unusual Arabic numerals on a polished chapter ring, outer dot minute divisions, radially engraved center with sun and arrow pattern, fi nely painted on enamel rural landscape with a windmill with varicolored gold sails, the sails turning when the automaton is activated, in the foreground a varicolored gold mule on a grassy base refuses to move, when the automaton is activated the fi gure of a farmer with a stick standing behind beats the mule, in response the mule kicks back. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 48.5 mm., matte-gilt, full plate, fusee and chain, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance, fl at balance spring, pierced and engraved continental cock with polished steel endplate, silver regulation dial, repeating with two hammers on two gongs activated by depressing the pendant which also activates the automaton action. Cuvette signed. Diam. 58.5 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch has a fi ne and amusing scene where the mule or donkey is evidently refusing to move. The farmer then beats him with his stick and in response the mule kicks back. This is a rare subject matter and one which is only known on the present watch to date. The condition of the watch is extremely good and it is of large size with a heavy pink gold case. The Swiss enamel scene is fi nely painted and shows no signs of restoration.
The name Dubois is associated with some very fine automaton watches such as the "The Tightrope Dancer" and the "Moses at the Rock". It is thought that Dubois produced automaton watches in collaboration with other highly skilled automaton makers such as Simon Gounouilhou who is famous for the "Dutch Kitchen" automata of which several examples are known. Interestingly, the present watch has a fusee and chain to drive the going train which is very unusual in a Swiss watch but found in several watches by Gounouilhou. The other unusual feature is that the automaton is driven by the the repeating mechanism via levers instead of the more usual independent train ? a system found in other watches signed Dubois.