9,200 CHF
A(braham) Chapuis & Barral, fecit à Genève 1812. Very fine musical watch with cylinder musical movement, of unusual construction and with quarter-repeating, accompanied by a gold chain and key. Four-body, "Empire", polished back, reeded band and bezels, gilt hingedcuvette. White enamel, Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions, windingaperture at 4. Blued-steel Breguet hands. Notes An interesting watch by little-known makers. The construction is unusual due to the use of a pinned cylinder for the music rather than the more usual pinned barrel, and to the arrangement of the gongs on the pillar plate under the dial. LiteraturEKatheleen H. Pritchard in Swiss Timepiece Makers, West Kennebunk, 1997, p. C-27. Abraham Chapuis & Barral. Working during the early 19th century, they made musical watches with cylin- der. A watch is known by them, signed on the cylinder and dated 1812. Their watches are often quarter repeaters with reverse cylinder or virgule escape- ments.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-11-14