Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 117

Rocaille oignon watch Louÿs Prevost, Genève, circa 1685. Exceptional silver and vermeil, pair-cased astronomical single-hand oignon watch à l?anglaise with manual perpetual calendar, planets corresponding to the days of the week, phases and age of the moon, quarters of the day, and seasons, with unusual rocaille scrolling and shell pattern.

CHF 14,000 - 20,000

EUR 8,800 - 12,600 / USD 11,000 - 15,600

Sold: CHF 26,450

C. Outer: (later) two-body, massive, finely and deeply chased with rococo scrolling and shells on vermeil ground, giving an unusual two-tone effect. Inner: two-body, silver, "bassine" with deep back, polished.D. Finely matted gilt brass plate with three applied silver rings; the lower one with radial Roman hour chapter with index hand, to the right 31-day date ring, to the left moon age and phases aperture in the center, days of the week aperture at 12 o?clock with governing planets, at 4 o?clock months with corresponding seasons, and at 8 o?clock quarters of the day. Blued steel hand.M. 42 mm, gilt brass full plate, large Egyptian pillars, fusee and chain, 4-wheel train, verge escapement, 3-arm steel balance with short balance spring, large cock pierced and engraved with symmetrical stylized foliage and streamers.Signed on the movement.Diam. of outer case: 58 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3 - 6*
Dial: 3 - 03

Notes

From the Collection of a French Gentleman The present watch has a very high-quality movement with a very unusual and beautiful case. The silver scrolling is very finely executed and in extremely good condition. An almost identical watch by Prevost, with a case less well preserved, is in the Louvre Museum, inv. OA 8313. Louÿs Prevost Came originally from Saumur and became a watchmaker in 1660, subsequently emigrating to Genève. Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.