The Art of Horology in Geneva

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 13, 1999

LOT 64

Morand, Genève, circa 1780.Very fine and extremely rare, varicoloured gold musical watch, carillon on five bells, with automaton scene.

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

Sold: CHF 89,300

C. Double body, Louis XVI with glazed back, the bezels chased with palm leaf decoration over a matted ground. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Gold "fleurs-de-lys" hands. M. Hinged gilt brass double train full plate, applied over the back plate the fine chased five-coloured gold automaton scene features a harbour, a rocking vessel on the background. Going train with going barrel, virgule escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, pinned drumusical train with five bells and five hammers, wounded by depressing the pendant and driving the movement of the rocking vessel, by means of a cam and levers.Signed on the dial.Diam. 53 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: * 3
Dial: 4-6-21-01

Fair

Slightly oxidized

Period

HANDS Original

Notes

Musical watches from the 18th century, playing on five bells, are extremely rare, even more so when also fitted with an automaton scene.Pierre Morand, Genève and ParisWatchmaker specialised in the production of high quality watches, mainly made for the Chinese Market. Varicoloured gold automaton watches, music watches and music coach watches. His signature appears on watches as early as 1770. He made a magnificent pair of coach watches with music for the Chinese Market, one of them plays a Chinese tune, the other a European style music. One of his watches was brought back from China at the beginning of the 20th century by Gustave Loup, the celebrated collectowho used to live in Pekin. Pierre Morand used to sign: Morand or Pierre Morand; between 1828 and 1835, he was still recorded as working in Geneva, in the30, rue de l'Etuve; at least one watch from this period, in gold and black enamel, with chatelaine, matching key and seal, is known to exist.From the Mark Yaffe Collection