Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 10, 2013

LOT 314

MEURON - PINK GOLD QUARTER REPEATING AUTOMATON WATCH WITH THREE ACTIONS & THREE HAMMERS - DWARF, MONKEY & CHICKEN Meuron et Compe, 'The Dwarf, Monkey and Chicken', case No. 7631/2799. Made circa 1820. Very fine and extremely rare, large, 18K pink gold and varicolored gold, skeletonized three-hammer and three gong carillion quarter-repeating pocket watch with three automaton actions.

CHF 25,000 - 35,000

HKD 205,000 - 290,000 / USD 26,500 - 38,000

Sold: CHF 28,750

Two-body, polished, mastermark PHMI, the back engine- turned. Sprung gilt-rimmed glazed cuvette hinged to the movement ring. Annular white enamel with Arabic numerals, outer minute track, the center glazed over a finely chased varicolored gold scene of a dwarf and a tree with a monkey, a chicken and another bird in the branches and a fox on a grassy bank below, the dwarf and monkey with automaton arms and the chicken's head moving to peck a bell when the repeating is activated. Gold poire and lozenge hands. 51 mm., matte gilt, skeletonized plates, engraved going barrel, cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance, flat balance spring, pierced polished steel cock with endstone, index regulator with engraved scale on the plate, repeating with three hammers on three blued steel coiled gongs activated by depressing the pendant.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-71-01

Good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Hairlines

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial and movement signed, case numbered. DIAM. 61 mm. MEURON & CIE Neuchatel, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Paris and Geneva. Renowned makers of repeating watches, skeleton and complicated watches and watches decorated with pearls and enamel. Working in the last part of the 18th century and the first quarter of the 19th century. This automaton is not only very attractive but particularly rare in having three automaton actions and repeating with three hammers on three gongs. Very few examples are known with three actions, the majority having only two. The finely chased varicolored gold scene is charming and unusual with a dwarf as the hour striking jack and a monkey striking a triangle as the first quarter jack, at the same time the chicken moves it's head in a pecking motion on a bell as the second quarter jack.