Abraham Cailliatte

Abraham Cailliatte, Geneva, circa 1670, the case definitively attributed to Pierre I Huaud pere. Very fine and important 22K gold and enamel prebalance spring watch. Double-body, entirely decorated in enamel, the band using a champleve technique with engraved gold foliage and rabbit hunting emblems in a deep turquoise ground, the back with a painted enamel scene of Venus and Adonis after Annibale Carracci, the interior with a landscape in the style of Gabriel Perrelle. Later gold protecting case, engine-turned in a weaved pattern. Enamelled gold, the centre with an allegory of Summer and white chapter-ring with Roman numerals, half and quarter-hour divisions. Single blued-steel single hand. Hinged gilt-brass full plate with turned balluster pillars, fusee with gut line, three wheel train with verge escapement and plain two-arm steel balance without spring. Pierced and florally engraved oval section gilt-brass balance cock, applied pierced and engraved silver overlay surrounding the signature, the brackets supporting the worm-and-wheel regulator of similar design, with silver indicator disk. Signed on the back plate. Diam. 36 mm. excluding the later gold protecting case Notes Abraham Cailliatte, Geneva Born 1642, died 1710. Originally a refugee Flom France, he appears to have specialised in gold and enamel watches. Examples exist with cases of French origin, (Musee du Lou)re, Inv. no. OA8332) as well as this watch with case by Pierre Humid 1 and an example by Pierre ilua Read more…