Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 233

Venus and Adonis Cabrier, London, No. 123, circa 1725. Very fine and important large silver pair-cased half quarter-repeating watch.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

EUR 4,400 - 5,700 / USD 5,500 - 7,000

Sold: CHF 9,430

C. Outer: two-body, of oignon type, back repoussé with a scene depicting Venus and Adonis, band pierced and engraved with foliage and repoussé with four putti, bezel pierced, engraved and repoussé with foliage. Inner: two-body, "bassine", band pierced and engraved with inhabited foliage and a mask, polished back.D. Silver with champlevé radial Roman numerals separated by gold touch pieces, arcaded outer minute divisions with five-minute Arabic markers. Blued steel early "beetle and poker" hands.M. 39 mm, frosted gilt full-plate with square baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, steel balance with flat balance spring, single-footed cock with streamers, half-quarter repeating of Quare type, repeating on bell (à toc now missing) by depressing the pendant.Signed on dial and movement.Diam. 60 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

The Cabriers Were a watchmaking family. Charles Cabrier, the father, was admitted into the Clockmakers? Company in February 1697/98 as a Freeman by redemption. In 1717 he took his son, Charles Cabrier junior, as apprentice, freeing him in 1726. Baillie lists Cabrier in Lombard Street. In 1730 a Cabrier is mentioned at the Dial, Tokenhouse Yard, in the parish of St. Margaret Lothbury. Charles Cabrier, Junior became an eminent maker and in 1757 he was elected Master of the Clockmakers? Company. His watches are in many museums, including the British Museum, the Guildhall Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Both Cabriers had strong ties with continental watchmakers, among others with Cabriere in Amsterdam. The son of Charles Cabrier, Junior, also named Charles, became an eminent watchmaker in his own right, which sometimes leads to difficulties in attribution. During the period the present watch was made, the two Cabriers, father and son, were working together. It is one of earliest known with half quarter-repeating watches.