Antiquorum in Love, Impotant Horology...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 16, 1997

LOT 44

Unsigned, Swiss, circa 1820. Changeont Minon (Echangeons Minou) Fine and highly unusual double face, erotic mechanical, moon phase astromomical calendar watch key.

CHF 4,000 - 5,000

USD 2,700 - 3,500

Sold: CHF 9,258

C. Massive gilt brass, glazed both faces. D. White enamel on the front with months and dates of the month, the centre inscribed: "Changeont Minon". Blued steel "arrow" counterpoised hands. White enamel on the back with phases of the moon and clays of the week with their associated planets, the centre painted with a charming scene depicting a maiden, seated in a landscape, holding a mouse by the tail and offering to swap it with the object of her desires held by her pussicat. Blued steel "arrow" hands. M. Brass with stacked click works set on each side of a thick single plate and all activated when the key is inserted in a winding square. Diam. 41 x 27 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 4

Fair
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 22-51

Later original

Partially reprinted

Notes

As opposed to Tavernier's mechanism, whereby a small lever is released when the key is inserted in a winding square, which then needs to be pushed in to activate the hands, in this mechanism, each time the key is inserted in a winding square all the hands jump forward one step.