Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 552

Adamson & Millenet, Paris, circa 1770. Very fine 20K gold and enamel center se-conds, double-dial quarter-repeating à toc watch with calendar.

CHF 5,000 - 7,000

EUR 3,100 - 4,400 / USD 3,900 - 5,500

Sold: CHF 11,500

C. Two-body, Louis XV, glazed on both sides, con-cealedhinge, bezel in translucent Imperial blue andwhite champlevé enamel.D. White enamel, radial Arabicnumerals, outer minute divisions with five-minute Arabicmarkers. Gold "Louis XV" hands. Back (restored): white enamel withmonth ring in the innermost, days of the week and date on the outermost, setting aperture. Gold pierced hands.M. 35 mm, hinged, frosted gilt full-plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, cylinder escapement, brass bal-ancewith flat balance spring, continental cock, bate levée, repeating on the band by depressing the pendant.Signed on the dial and bate levee ring.Diam. 43 mm


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 29 - 01

Notes

A rare watch featuring a separate calendar dial and early application of center seconds, which became popular in France only during the 19th century. Gustave-Adolophe Adamson (1749 - after 1813) Son of Godfried, clockmaker. Married Julie-Aldegonde Lissacq. Received as Master 5 May 1788. Valet de Chambre-Horloger Ordinaire du Roi on the reversion of Antoine Pelletier, after Jean Fol's resignation (1783), resigning himself in favor of Nicolas Lamy-Gouge (1778). Established at Place Dauphine (1773), Court of the Monks at the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (1775), passage de Valois. Active before 1773, date of his conversion to the Catholic faith. Spe-cialized in watches, he was associated with Hippolyte Millenet from 1774 to 1782, under the name Adarnson & Mil-lenet. He also made some very high quality clocks. Used cases by J.A. Alban, X. Gide, L.P. Lefebvre, clock cases by J.P.E. Cottin, and dials by Arnaud. Among his clients were Gustave III of Sweden, the princes Charles de Lorraine and de Salm-Kirburg, the marquis de Brancas, the barons de Stadina and de Stael-Holstein, and MM. Lenormand d'Etoiles, Pahin de la Blanclierie and de Mondragon. Museums: Brussels, musees royaux d'Art et d'Histoire; London, Victoria & Albert Museum; Paris, Musée du Louvre; Sweden, Royal Collections.