Geneva, May 08, 2022

LOT 202

Horological miscellaneous; miniature reproduction of a watchmaker’s workbench with its screw-stool; wood and brass

CHF 1,200 - 2,200

EUR 1,200 - 2,200 / USD 1,300 - 2,400 / HKD 10,100 - 18,500

TO BE SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE

Sold: CHF 687

Wood (walnut and mountain fir) and brass, miniature reproduction of a traditional watchmaker’s workbench from the Neuchâtel mountains, with its screw-stool. The 23 graduated drawers are removable and all mounted with dovetails.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 3

Good

Brand Unsigned, Switzerland

Year Circa 1950

Dimensions  200 x 238 x 94 mm.

Notes

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.)

A similar miniature reproduction of a watchmaker’s workbench with its screw-stool from the 1950-1960’s was sold by our company in Monte Carlo :
  • Antiquorum, Monaco, auction, July 21, 2021, lot 01, for the amount of € 4 550.