The Apple KnifeUnsigned

The Apple KnifeUnsigned, Geneva, circa 1820. Exceptional 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl-set, folding fruit knife, with music, concealed watch and magnifying glass. Each side of the handle similarly decorated with two enamelled medallions, the upper ones on each side are painted with an allegory of music, with pearls below and above, the lower with flowers and pearl-set motifs; the front panel slides to reveal the watch by pressing a pearl in the centre. A small pushpiece on the side releases the spring-loaded magnifying glass; the blade with champlevé foliate decoration in blue enamel, including the spine. Wedge-shaped, 14.4 mm at top, 7 mm at bottom, the narrower part occupied by the brass watch movement, with fixed barrel, cylinder escapement, plain three-arm brass balance, flat balance spring; the wider part occupied by the brass musical movement, with pin barrel, six tuned teeth, five-wheel train the last pinion as a governor regulated by the eccentric bushing.Dim. 94 x 25 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 460-461. Notes Only a few knives in gold and enamel with additional complications are known. The simplest type contains only a musical train. The present lot is particularly rare because it also features a watch. The gold blade was specifically used for cutting apple, since silver or steel would discolour the fruit.Piguet Lot MeylanIsaac Daniel Piguet and Philippe Samuel Meylan were in partnership from 1811 to 1828 and just before 1828 their premises were 45