This object, which can be considered as a “piece of furniture of mastery”, was made in the 1950-1960’s by a craftsman of Le Locle (canton of Neuchâtel), … whose name we have unfortunately not been able to find! He was a cabinetmaker and carpenter by formation and spent his free time recreating miniature furniture from the Neuchâtel mountains. First made for his children, he then sold them at Christmas time, thus providing him with a small financial boost.

In the 1990s, another craftsman from L’Auberson, near Sainte-Croix (canton of Vaud) also recreated this kind of “adult toy”. His advertisement was: “Pour votre plaisir, vos cadeaux, votre décoration / Etabli miniature ancien horloger 1/5e / avec quinquet, tabouret, outils, mannequins / Exécution artisanale très soignée digne d’une pièce de musée.”

For your pleasure, your gifts, your decoration / Miniature antique watchmaker’s workbench 1/5th / with lamp, stool, tools, mannequins / Very careful handcrafted execution worthy of a museum piece.

Please note that the Playmobil® is not included in this lot, being the property of one of the sons of your antique horological expert !