Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 134

The Butterfly Piguet et Meylan, Geneva, No. 3459, circa 1820, made for the Chinese Market. Exceptionally fine and very rare 18K gold and enamel, diamond, emerald and half pearl-set musical automaton box in a shape of a butterfly fitted, with a watch, in a fitted wooden box.

CHF 1 - 1

EUR 1 - 1

Sold: CHF 311,500

C. Four-body, hinged wings, one revealing the watch and automaton, the other a compartment, finely painted on enamel, each wing set with two good-sized diamonds, their edges set with half pearls, diamond-set thorax in translucent violet and red enamel, emerald-set eyes, sides with translucent scarlet and dark blue enamel over flinqué pattern, the bottom in translucent red enamel over unusual wave engine-turning with azure border decorated with gold leaf pattern. D. painted on enamel with a lake and a park, with applied gold cherub playing the lyre accompanied by a lady playing the harp, two courting doves in a nest below, small white enamel dial with radial Roman numeral chapter set at the upper right corner, with outer minute track, subsidiary seconds dial to the left, regulating aperture between them. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. Following the shape of the case, set to one side of the musical movement, brass, fixed barrel, cylinder escapement, three-arm plain brass balance with flat balance spring. Musical movement: sur plateau, fixed barrel, pinned disc with pins on both sides, 38 separate tuned teeth, fly governor, automaton driven by a small cam set in the center of the pinned disc. Punched and numbered with the maker?s mark on the movement. Dim. 85 x 51 x 21 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

An identical butterfly box with a different wing pattern and an identical movement by Piguet Meylan was in the Salomon Collection. Piguet & Meylan Isaac Daniel Piguet and Philippe Samuel Meylan were in partnership from 1811 to 1828. From 1815 until the end of their association in 1828, Piguet and Meylan both lived, with their families, in the same house located at number 45 of the rue Chevelu (today re-named the rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau). Isaac Daniel Piguet Born in Chenit in 1775, he died in Geneva in 1841. A very skillful watchmaker, he entered into partnership first with Henry Capt, from 1802 to 1811, and then with Samuel Philippe Meylan, another watchmaker from the same village, until 1828. Their work was marked with the initials "PM" within a lozenge. After 1828, Piguet continued his activities with his son, either under the name of Piguet & Fils, or under that of I. D. Piguet & Cie. Their creations were for a large part made for the Chinese market. Philippe Samuel Meylan Born February 15, 1772, in Bas-du-Chenit, he died in Geneva in 1845. At the age of 20 he came to Geneva where he was a master worker for the Godemar Frères. He met another watchmaker from his native region, Isaac Piguet, and they entered into partnership, founding the Piguet & Meylan firm, which was to last from 1811 to 1828. It specialized in minute cadratures, musical watches, ske-leton and automaton watches. Meylan is also credited with the invention of the bagnolet caliber. After Piguet & Meylan was dissolved, Philippe Samuel Meylan continued to work with his sons François and Auguste.