The Art of Horology in Geneva

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 13, 1999

LOT 3

Jean Rousseau, le Jeune, Geneva, circa 1660.Fine, early, silver, hour striking clockwatch.

CHF 30,000 - 35,000

Sold: CHF 43,700

C. Double body, bassine the split-bezel engraved with sunflowers the back pierced and engraved with a very fine composition of summer flowers on a hatch ground, loose-ring pendant. D. Silver Roman chapter ring, the centre engraved with a river-side landscape, a tower on the left, a castle on the back. Fine elaborated gilt brass single hand. Hinged gilt brass, full plate with gilt brass urn pillars, fusee with gut-line, verge escapement, plain steel two-arm balance without spring, irregular ovaloliage pierced and engraved cock secured by a screw, click and ratchet wheel set-up. Striking train with gilt brass fixed barrel pierced and engraved with foliage, striking on a bell, the silver count-wheel on the back plate.Signed on the back plate.Diam. 54 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: * 3
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

Jean Rousseau, le Jeune, (1606-1684)Jean-Jacques Rousseau's great-grand father, worked in Geneva where he was famous for high quality watches. He made several form watches, but also complicated watches such as clock-watches, alarm-watches and astronomical watches. Master of the Clockmakers Company of Geneva, he formed several apprentices: Isaac Bordier, son of Jacques I and Ypollite Noël, in 1631, Jean-François Lachis in 1644, Pierre Bérard in 1649, Antoine Garnier in 1652, Jean Blancher and Amédée Marchand in 1659. He was the sonof the famous Jean Rousseau I.Jean Rousseau I, (1580-1642)Maître horloger, he specialised in form watches, notably animals and birds and crucifix watches. Rousseau had five daughters and seven sons, several of whom followed him into the watchmaking trade.A very similar watch is kept in the collection of the British Museum (inv. 74,7-18,28), and illustrated by Catherine Cardinal, in La Montre, des origines au XIXe siècle, Fribourg, 1985, p. 32, pl. 16.