Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Hong Kong, Jul 23, 2020
LOT 53
Attributable to Piguet & Capt
Musical harp; 18K yellow gold, enamel, pearls
Musical harp; 18K yellow gold, enamel, pearls
HKD 200,000 - 250,000
CHF 24,400 - 30,500 / USD 26,000 - 32,500
18K yellow gold, enamel and pearl-set, key-winding, object in the shape of a harp incorporating a music.
The harp’s resonance chamber is decorated with a painting on polychrome enamel representing a musical trophy (violin, guitar, cymbals, score, quivers and arrows, roses and ribbon); the sound bodies (side panels) are decorated with chiselled and “amati” (amazed) gold plates, each decorated with a quiver with its arrows, in pearl frames on a translucent blue enamel background; the capital of the instrument is adorned with garlands of pearls held by goat horns; the soundboard with stylised flowers presents the action control of the mechanism.
The harp’s resonance chamber is decorated with a painting on polychrome enamel representing a musical trophy (violin, guitar, cymbals, score, quivers and arrows, roses and ribbon); the sound bodies (side panels) are decorated with chiselled and “amati” (amazed) gold plates, each decorated with a quiver with its arrows, in pearl frames on a translucent blue enamel background; the capital of the instrument is adorned with garlands of pearls held by goat horns; the soundboard with stylised flowers presents the action control of the mechanism.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-01 |
Good HANDS Original |
Brand Unsigned, Geneva
Year circa 1805-1810
Caliber trapezoid-shaped, gilded brass, pinned barrel and stacked tuned steel vibrating blades, pinion governor in adjustable bushing for tempo adjustment (activating bolt on the case band)
Dimensions 70 x 50 mm. (without chain)
Notes
From the 1780’s onwards, the fashion for miniature jewellery watches became one of the specialities of Geneva’s craftsmen, watchmakers and goldsmiths. Thanks to the invention of vibrating blades in 1796 by Antoine Favre-Salomon, they would sometimes incorporate music boxes but also tiny scenes with automata developed from musical mechanisms. The bestknown makers of this kind of prestigious objects are Henry-Daniel Capt (1773-1841) & IsaacDaniel Piguet (1775-1841), both associated between 1802 and 1811.
Henry-Daniel Capt (1773-1841) & Isaac-Daniel Piguet (1775-1841) Piguet & Capt (active between 1802 and 1811)
Specialised in the production of complicated watches, musical and/or automaton scenes incorporated into watches, snuff-boxes or objects. Among the first in Geneva to use the musical mechanism with pinned cylinder and tuned teeth comb.
From 16 ventôse an X (March 7, 1802), to 1811, Henry-Daniel Capt (1773-1841) formed a partnership with Isaac-Daniel Piguet (1775-1841), who was from the same village – Le Chenit – as he in the Vallée de Joux. Their signature was “Piguet & Capt”.
In 1811, when Piguet broke off to join Philippe-Samuel Meylan (1772-1845) in a new partnership, Henry-Daniel Capt continued to work on his own. Following this separation, Capt restarts a numbering of his movements in the 300.
In 1830, he went into partnership with Aubert and Son, Place Bel-Air. Their signature was “Aubert & Capt”. They were among the first Genevan makers to produce watches with chronograph.
In 1844, the workshop was at 108, rue Neuve in Geneva. It was then managed by Capt’s son, Henry Capt Jr. After a short time, it moved to 85, 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”, a Swiss trademark registered on November 1st, 1880, under the No. 44. This signature was only used for watches retailed in their own store, the watches supplied to other retailers being merely signed Henry Capt.
Henry-Daniel Capt, along with Isaac-Daniel Piguet and Philippe-Samuel Meylan, was the foremost maker of small musical automata in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Most of his work is not signed, although he sometimes scratched his name on his movements.
Bessière & Schneider
Master goldsmiths from Geneva associated between 1805 and 1808. During this short period, they produced small objects of great quality, working in particular with watchmakers such as the Piguet & Capt.
Henry-Daniel Capt (1773-1841) & Isaac-Daniel Piguet (1775-1841) Piguet & Capt (active between 1802 and 1811)
Specialised in the production of complicated watches, musical and/or automaton scenes incorporated into watches, snuff-boxes or objects. Among the first in Geneva to use the musical mechanism with pinned cylinder and tuned teeth comb.
From 16 ventôse an X (March 7, 1802), to 1811, Henry-Daniel Capt (1773-1841) formed a partnership with Isaac-Daniel Piguet (1775-1841), who was from the same village – Le Chenit – as he in the Vallée de Joux. Their signature was “Piguet & Capt”.
In 1811, when Piguet broke off to join Philippe-Samuel Meylan (1772-1845) in a new partnership, Henry-Daniel Capt continued to work on his own. Following this separation, Capt restarts a numbering of his movements in the 300.
In 1830, he went into partnership with Aubert and Son, Place Bel-Air. Their signature was “Aubert & Capt”. They were among the first Genevan makers to produce watches with chronograph.
In 1844, the workshop was at 108, rue Neuve in Geneva. It was then managed by Capt’s son, Henry Capt Jr. After a short time, it moved to 85, 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”, a Swiss trademark registered on November 1st, 1880, under the No. 44. This signature was only used for watches retailed in their own store, the watches supplied to other retailers being merely signed Henry Capt.
Henry-Daniel Capt, along with Isaac-Daniel Piguet and Philippe-Samuel Meylan, was the foremost maker of small musical automata in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Most of his work is not signed, although he sometimes scratched his name on his movements.
Bessière & Schneider
Master goldsmiths from Geneva associated between 1805 and 1808. During this short period, they produced small objects of great quality, working in particular with watchmakers such as the Piguet & Capt.