Important Watches Wristwatches, and C...

The Furama Hotel Hong Kong, Victoriana Room, Jun 05, 2000

LOT 530

Geneva, attributable to Henry Capt, circa 1815.La Forge de CupidonFine and rare, small 18K gold and enamel, pearl-set musical watch with automaton scene.

HKD 120,000 - 144,000

USD 15,000 - 18,000

Sold: HKD 161,000

C. Three-body, Empire with ribbed band and split-pearl set bezels, the back of blue flinqué enamel. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. D. Small eccentric gold engine-turned with Roman numerals. Blued steel ?spade? hands. The enamel dial plate painted with a Swiss landscape below the dial and applied with a very fine varicoloured gold automaton scene, depicting two cherubs busily working in a forge: one is forging weapons for Venus while another sharps the arrows. M. Gilt brass double train, with going brrel, cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring with regulator. The musical train with pinned drum, six stacked vibrating blades, driving the automata by means of cams and levers.Diam. 42 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 4

Fair
Movement: * 4 - 5
Dial: 4 - 04

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.