492,000 HKD
The Forge – Watch with Five Automaton Actions Attributed to Esquivillon et Deschoudens à Genève, No. 25197. Made circa 1820. Very fine and extremely rare, quarter-repeating, 18K rose gold pocket watch with multicolored gold striking Jacks and an automaton scene of a forge with a total of five automaton actions. Three-body, “Empire”, engine-turned, polished borders, bolt at 10 for locking the repeat. Gilt metal spring-loaded cuvette. Annular white enamel with black Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions, center with applied gold seated cherubs on a gold bridge with flower vase between, striking bells during repeating, the lower section with the automaton scene depicting a blacksmith’s forge, the blacksmith hammering the anvil, his assistant working the bellows for the fire with moving flame, brushed blued steel background. Blued steel Breguet hands. 42 mm (19’’’), frosted gilt, full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusée and chain, verge escapement, plain brass balance with flat balance spring, pierced continental cock with polished steel endplate, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant, the automaton driven via repeating train. Diam. 55 mm. Notes IIt is very rare to find an automaton watch with as many as five separate actions. A very few are known with four, six and eight actions, placing the present watch amongst those with the highest number of automaton actions. The moving flame for the fire is particularly charming. A similar watch, signed Esquivill
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2008-06-08
