18,000 CHF
Franciscus Mercier, Geneva, made for the Italian market, circa 1690. Very fine silver and tortoiseshell pair cased, moon phase astronomical watch. Outer double body, oignon tortoiseshell with silver pique decoration. Inner double body, bassine with split bezel and loose-ring pendant, polished. Gilt brass, chased with scrolling foliage with applied silver Roman chapter ring four hours, subsidiary silver ring for the age of the moon with inner moon phase aperture and symmetrical Arabic silver ring for the dates, apertures for the four parts of the day, days of the week with corresponding planets, months with their number of clays and the seasons. Blued steel hands. Hinged gilt brass full plate with Egyptian pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass English cock pierced and engraved with foliage and centred with an engraved face. Signed on the back plate. Diam. 55 mm. Notes Although all the calendar and astronomical indications are written in Italian, this watch was certainly made by Francois Mercier, watchmaker in Geneva known also for the watches he made for the Italian Market.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1998-10-31