Important Watches, Collectors’ Wristw...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Nov 14, 2004

LOT 282

The Dulcimer Concert Piguet et Capt, Geneva, No. 130, circa 1810. Very fine and rare, 18K gold and enamel, musical automaton pocket watch, in original fitted box.

CHF 30,000 - 35,000

EUR 19,000 - 23,000 / USD 24,000 - 28,000

Sold: CHF 116,150

C. Two-body, Empire, by ?G.D?, polished. D. Small eccentric white enamel, set above the automaton, upright Arabic numerals. Gold ?spear? hands. The varicolored gold automaton lady plays the dulcimer. She is accompanied by a gentleman playing the violin, with a dog at his feet, the background, depicting a study with an open window, very finely painted on enamel. M. Gilt brass, full plate double train, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring with regulator, continental cock. Barillet musical train with six vibrating blades individually mounted to both plates, driving the automata by means of cams and levers, unusualdouble wheel stop-work.Signed and numbered on the movement ring.Diam. 61 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

This is an excellent example of a musical watch by two masters of musical automata, featuring Favre?s invention of vibrating blades, only ten years old at the time. The word ?dulcimer? comes from dulce melos, Greek for sweet sound. It was popular among the gentil classes - many images from the Renaissance and later portray the dulcimer held by angels and individuals of high social position. 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?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.