45,000 CHF
THE KNIFE GRINDER, WATCH WITH SIX AUTOMATON ACTIONS Attributed to Esquivillon et Deschoudens à Genève. Made circa 1810. Very fine and very rare, quarter-repeating, 18K rose gold pocket watch with multicolored gold striking Jacks and an automaton scene of a knife-grinder’s workshop with a total of six automaton actions. Three-body, “Empire”, No. 2366, engine-turned, bolt at 11 to lock the repeating. Gilt brass spring-loaded cuvette fi tted to the movement ring. Annular white enamel with Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions, center with applied multicolored gold cherubs appearing to strike bells during repeating, gold brick arch below and within an automaton scene depicting a knife-grinder sharpening a knife on a grinding wheel while a boy drives the wheel via a large pulley, blued steel background. Blued steel Breguet hands. 43 mm., 19’’’, frosted gilt, full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusée and chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance with flat balance spring, pierced and engraved continental balance cock with polished steel endplate, silver regulation dial, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant, automaton driven via repeating train. Diam. 57 mm. Notes A similar watch, signed Esquivillon et Dechoudens, from the F. Conty Collection, Geneva, is described and illustrated in A. Chapuis and E. Gelis , “Le Monde des Automates”, volume 2, page 35, fi g. 297. Esquivillon & Dechoudens Master watchmakers of the 18th century. Gédéon- Françoi
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2011-11-13
