Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 135

The Barking Dog J.D. Piguet & P. Meylan, Geneva, No. 174, circa 1820. Very rare and very fine 18K gold, quarter-repeating "barking dog" automaton watch.

CHF 40,000 - 60,000

EUR 27,000 - 40,000

Sold: CHF 91,500

C. Four-body, "Empire", polished back, reeded band, gold glazed hinged cuvette. D. Eccentric, set at the top of dark blue translucent enamel engine-turned plate, white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute divisions. Gold "spade" hands. Lower part with applied varicolored gold and silver automaton scene of a dog barking at a couple of birds courting in a nest, the dog moves its head with each movement of the bellows, the whole on applied gold grass. M. 48 mm. ø, gilt brass half plate, free-standing barrel, cylinder escapement, steel escape wheel, plain three-arm brass balance, flat balance spring. The repeating barking mechanism with a round bellows and whistle is activated by depressing the pendant. Punched on the movement with maker?s trademark Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 28
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 21 - 01

Notes

The watch repeats the hours and quarters with the sound of a barking dog; the rarest form of repeating. There are only approximately 20 "barking dog" watches known. There is a controversy as to whether the company employed only one series of consecutive numbers or used separate series for certain types of watches. Although the numbers of Piguet & Meylan watches go up to the 7000?s, the barking dog numbers are lower than 300. It is possible that the company started its production with barking dog models, then proceeded to other ones, but continued the production of the barking dog watches with the first series numbers. For a biography of Piguet & Meylan, see lot 134.