48,300 CHF
"La partie de badminton". Very fine and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl-set centre seconds watch with automaton scene. Double body with split-pearl set bezel, pendant with champlevé enamelled decoration, the band chased with a floral decoration, glazed back over the enamel automaton scene in varicoloured gold of a couple playing badminton, using a butterfly as a shuttlecock, a glass rod fountain on the foreground, the back decorated in paillons on a blue enamel ground. White enamel with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute and seconds ring. Gold Breguet hands. Gilt brass, Lepine type calibre with free standing barrel, cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring with regulator. The automatons are driven by an independent movement with going barrel and fly regulator. In very good condition. Diam.52 mm. Notes Attributed to the Jaquet-Droz workshop, Swiss, made for the Chinese market, circa 1785. The gilt brass movement of this watch, drawn from that invented by Jean Antoine Lepine circa 1775, with free standing barrel, is typical of that used by the Jaquet-Droz workshop at this period for their centre seconds watches made for the Chinese market.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1995-04-22
