Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 84

The Harp Attributed to Piguet & Capt, Geneva, circa 1805. Very fine and rare 18K gold and enamel diamond- and pearl-set musical pendant watch in the shape of a harp.

CHF 30,000 - 40,000

EUR 19,000 - 25,000 / USD 23,500 - 31,000

Sold: CHF 43,700

C. The front of the soundboard painted on enamel with musical trophies, watch below within pearl-set frame, sides in translucent imperial blue enamel over flinqué decorated with gold Cupid?s quivers within white enamel ogival frames, gold and azure enamel column with ornate capital with pearl swags, gold twisted rope strings with diamond-set pegs.D. White enamel, on a black enamel ground with chased leaf decoration, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track. Blued steel "spade" hands.M. Trapezoidal, 18 x 17 mm, frosted gilt full-plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement brass balance with flat balance spring, continental cock. Musical: barillet type with seven stacked tuned vibrating blades, five-wheel train, eccentric bushing speed regulating.Dim. 80 x 43 mm


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 50
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-14-29-01

Good

Damaged

Lacking elements

HANDS Original

Notes

A similar harp is in the Historisches Museum in Basel, inv. 1982.1050. Piguet & Capt. Isaac Daniel Piguet (1775 ? 1841) and Henry Capt (1775 ? 1841) were partners from 1802 to 1811. They specialized in musical and automaton watches but also made very fine musical pieces with automata. Two small musical movements with five tuned teeth, playing tunes on five notes, were among their first, made in 1802. In 1811 Piguet became associated with Meylan, forming another famous firm, Piguet et Meylan. "Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois", Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.