Exceptional Collectors Timepieces, Ho...

Geneva, May 15, 2005

LOT 169

"Joseph's Dream" Piguet & Meylan, Geneva, No. 4191, the box attributed to Jean-Georges Reymond & Cie, the enamel attrib-uted to Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont. Made circa 1820. Magnificent and very rare, 18K gold, enamel and pearl-set, musical automaton snuff box with two tunes and concealed center-seconds watch, made for the Chinese market. Accompanied by a red morocco and gold tooled leather Desoutter fitted box.

CHF 160,000 - 200,000

EUR 100,000 - 130,000 / USD 140,000 - 170,000

Sold: CHF 215,250

C. Rectangular with rounded corners, divided into two compartments, the front empty, the back housing theautomaton and the watch, two hinged covers. The top cover with a very finely enamelled panel of Joseph with hisparents and step-brothers within a half pearl frame. The back cover with red translucent enamel over engine-turn-ingand a chased swagged urn, gold, black and azure champlevé enamel florally decorated frame. The four sidesdecorated en suite in polychrome champlevé enamel. The back cover opens to reveal an interior scene paintedon enamel with two vari-coloured gold automaton figures, the lady playing a guitar and the gentleman a lyre. Aclock on the mantelpiece, with blued 'spade' hands and centre-seconds, tells the time. The sector to its left is forregulation. D. White enamel dial, Arabic chapters, minute and seconds dot divisions. Blued-steel 'spade' hands.M. Mounted in the upper right corner of the musical movement. Triangular shape 26 x 33 mm, brass three-quar-terplate, cylindrical pillars, fixed barrel, cylinder escapement, steel escape wheel, plain brass three-arm balance,flat balance spring. The brass rectangular musical and automaton movement, 80 x 53 mm, driven by fixed barrel,with four-arm fly regulator mounted on the extension of the last pinion, double-sided pinned revolving plate play-ingwith two sets of 32 tuned teeth in a fan-shape, the automata driven from a cam mounted on the pin wheelarbor which moves a lever and in turn moves the arms of the figures. Two bolts on the front side panel, the rightone to activate the music and the automaton work, the left one to choose between the two tunes. Stamped withthe maker's mark and serial number on the musical plate, the number repeated on the watch movement.Dim. 83 x 56 x 26 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 54
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 55 - 05

Notes

A similar box, No.4189, was sold by Antiquorum, ?The Sandberg Watch Collection?, March 31, 2001, Lot 215. The very finely painted enamel panel set into the top of this box can be attributed stylistically to Jean-Francois Victor Dupont. The scene depicts Joseph interpreting his dreams to his parents Jacob and Rebecca with his jealous half-brothers looking on. This resulted in Joseph's pretended murder and his being sold into slavery with passing Egyptians. Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont (1785-1863) Probably the finest painter on enamel working in Geneva at the time. His work included portraits of distinguished figures (King George IV, Henry VI etc.), as well as boxes and particularly watches for the Chinese Market. For these he frequently worked with Ilbery as well as Piguet & Meylan. He was able to paint a group of figures posed on the same plane without giving an impression of crowding. His distinctive palette may well be due to the fact that he mixed his own colors. Piguet & Meylan Both originally from the village of Le Chenit in the Vallée de Joux, Isaac Daniel Piguet and Philippe Samuel Meylan came to Geneva as young men, and formed a partnership which lasted from 1811 to 1828. The company specialized in elaborate and beautifully decorated musical watches, including skeleton and automaton watches, and mechanical animals. The firm was established at 45, rue Jean Jacques Rousseau in Geneva, and was truly a family affair. David Auguste Piguet, the son of Isaac Daniel, and François and Auguste Meylan, sons of Philippe Samuel, all served their apprenticeship in the company. After their association ended, both Piguet and Meylan continued to work for some time with their sons. Isaac Daniel Piguet (1775-1841) Born in the Vallée de Joux, Isaac Daniel Piguet married Jeanne Françoise Capt around 1795, and toward 1800 settled in Geneva with his family (a son, Charles Auguste, had been born in 1796). Isaac Daniel Piguet became asso-ciated with Henri Daniel Capt, his brother-in-law, on February 10, 1802. That partnership was dissolved, and Piguet became associated with Philippe Samuel Meylan in 1811. After the association between Piguet & Meylan came to an end in 1828, Piguet and his son David Auguste established a new com-pany, Piguet père & fils, located at 69 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Philippe Samuel Meylan (1772-1845) Born February 15, 1772, in Bas-du- Chenit, died in Geneva in 1845. At 20 years of age he came to Geneva where he was a master worker for the Godemar Frères. He met another watchmaker from his native region, Isaac Piguet, and they entered into partner-ship, founding the Piguet & Meylan firm, which was to last from 1811 to 1828. It specialized in minute cadratures, musical watches, skeleton and automaton watches. Meylan is also credited with the invention of the bagnolet caliber. After Piguet & Meylan was dissolved, Philippe Samuel Meylan continued to work with his sons François and Auguste.