Important Watches Wristwatches, and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 02, 2000

LOT 398

Henry Capt à Genève, circa 1810.Fine 18K gold musical watch, with automaton scene.

CHF 15,000 - 18,000

Sold: CHF 19,550

C. Double body, Empire, polished with reeded band, the back engraved with a later monogram. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. D. Gold small eccentric with Breguet numerals, the centre engraved with a rosette. Below the dial, an automaton lady in classical dress, seated in a park, plays the harp for Cupid. Blued steel ?spade? hands. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fixed barrel with revolving arbor, cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass cocwith polished steel end-piece. Pinned drum musical train with two sets of six tuned teeth.Signature engraved on the dust rim around the movement.Diam. 56 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: * 4 - 7
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

Henry-Daniel CaptBorn in Chenit in 1773, married Henriette Piguet. He was specialised in the production of complicated watches, musical watches and automaton watches. Among the first in Geneva to use musical mechanism with pinned cylinder and tuned teeth comb, he was famous for his snuffboxes with music and automaton scenes. From Ventôse 16, An X (March 7, 1802), to 1811, he formed a partnership with Daniel Isaac Piguet, native from the same village. Their signature was Piguet & Capt. In 1811, when Piguet brokeff to join Meylan in a new partnership, Henry-Daniel Capt decided to work on his own until, in 1830, he formed a new partnership with Aubert and his son, Place Bel-Air vis-à-vis de la balance. Their signature was Aubert & Capt. They were among the first makers in Geneva to produce watches with chronograph. In 1844 the workshop was at108, rue Neuve in Geneva and was then managed by his son, Henri Capt Jr. After a short time the workshop moved to85, rue de la Fusterie, and in 1851, to 177, rue du Rhône. In 1880, the firm was bought by Gallopin and its name became H. Capt Horloger, Maison Gallopin Successeurs, trademark registered on November 1, 1880, under No. 44. This signature was only used for watches retailed in their own store, the watches supplied to other retailers being just signed, Henry Capt.