Noel Cusin

Noel Cusin, Le Coquillage Noel Cusin, Autun (France), one of the fathers of Geneva watchmaking. Made circa 1630. Very fine and extremely rare, coquille-form, gilt-brass, pre-balance spring, single-handed pendant watch. Two-body, shell-form, gadrooned and engraved with foliate scrolls, pendant with loose ring, hinged shell-form cover, unusual hinged catch, the interiors engraved with pounced formal foliage. Oval, gilt brass, sprung latch, engraved chapter ring with radial Roman hour numerals with arrow half-hour divisions, the center engraved with scrolling foliage, outer border engraved with scrolling foliage and fruit. Steel tulip hand. 28 x 24 mm., oval gilt brass, baluster pillars, fusee with chain, short four-wheel train with five-leaf pinions, verge escapement, three-arm brass foliot with vertical baking pins on the rim, elongated cock with small foot, pierced and engraved with flowering foliage, secured by a pin, ratchet wheel and click mainspring set-up. Movement signed. Dim. 33 x 29 mm. excluding pendant. Notes The Cusins were a family of French watchmakers whose ancestor, Charles, had emigrated from Autun to Geneva, and is considered responsible for introducing watchmaking to that city. He became a resident in Geneva on July 12, 1574. His halfbrother Noël (1587 – 1656), the maker of the present watch, was considered one of the most important watchmakers in the city.