Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 271

Attributed to Jean-Pierre Droz, Chaux-de-Fonds, circa 1760. Fine, rare and important floor weight-driven beating seconds early Neuchâtel regulator clock.

CHF 12,000 - 18,000

EUR 7,800 - 11,700

Sold: CHF 17,250

C. Rectangular with domed top, painted black with red inside, trunk with hinged door with glazed opening in the center and gilt brass corner appliqués,molded base with trapezoidal dado, molded top with glazed sides, hinged glazed door, and small arch. D. Putter disc with Roman numerals, outer minute divisions with five-minute Arabic markers, set on a brown velvet with enamel subsidiary seconds below 12 o'clock, winding aperture between 6 and 7 o'clock. Gilt brass Louis XV hands.M. Rectangular, brass, grooved pulley with manual pull maintaining power, 4-wheel train (+ the pulley, dead-beat Graham escapement, rectangular iron rod with brass bob, spring suspension hanging independently of the movement.Signed on the movement.Dim. Height 2 meters


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good
Case: 3 - 21
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 23 - 02-

Notes

Provenance: Susie Andrergg, Geneva, untill 1908.M. Georges Hantz, from 1908Alfred Chapuis mentioned this clock on p. 94 of his book ?Histoire de la Pendulerie euchateloise?, 1917, as an example of the area's early regulators. euchatel floor regulators are extremely rare.Chapuis, one of the foremost authorites on Swiss horology, attributed the piece to Jean-Pierrre Droz d. 1764, one of the best clockmakers in Chaux-de-Fonds at the time, and ?Horloger de S.A. le Prince Éveque de Bâle et de la Cour?. He is known to have made long case regulators in the style of this one.The inside of the case is fitted with an interesting paper describing the provenance and signed by Mr. Hantz.