25,300 CHF
Baltazar Martinot à Paris, circa 1680. Extremely fine and rare, 20 ct. gold and enamel, pair cased, early balance spring set clockwatch. Double body, bassine with split bezel, the bezel enamelled with a foliage decoration, the border of the back pierced and engraved with inhabiter foliage and with three small enamel panels painted with flowers. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring, the centre painted with a fine scene of a courting couple in a landscape. Blued steel hands. Hinged gilt brass full plate with Egyptian pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement with plain steel three-arm balance, short flat balance spring and gilt brass Louis XIV cock pierced and engraved with inhabited foliage. Hour striking train with gilt brass fixed barrel, silver count wheel on the back plate. Signed on the back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 53 mm. Notes Baltazar Martinot II (l'aisné), the most illustrious amongst a large family of dock and watchmakers. Born in Rouen in 1636, the eldest son of Baltazar and Catherine Hubert. He was established in Paris before 1683, and died at Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1714. He held the titles of Horloger ordinaire to King Louis XII and the Council, and was also Horloger to the Queen, Anne of Austria, a title which he inherited upon the death of bis father-inlaw, Pierre Belon, in 1665.At the time of the Edict of Mars in 1700, it was Baltazar who made the largest declaration of stock. In 1695, he organised, in company wit
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1995-04-22
