7,080 CHF
White Aquarium Atmos Clock” LeCoultre & Cie, Swiss, Ref. 5810. Production of this reference started in 1962. Fine and very rare, rectangular gilt brass and perspex (lucite) mantel clock with “aquarium” panels and wound by barometric changes. Glazed on 4 sides and on the top with perspex panels, those on the sides set with gilt angel-fish and water plants, the front panel with aperture to view the pendulum, stepped plinth base. Beige with applied gilt faceted dart indexes and Arabic quarter- hour numerals. Gilt “Dauphine” hands. Cal. 526-5, gilt brass, vacuum chamber winding the going barrel, lever escapement driven by annular tension pendulum, locking screw in the base below the pendulum disc. Case, movement and vacuum signed. Dim. 23 x 18 x 14 cm. Notes Atmos The Atmos clock was invented by Neuchâtel engineer Jean-Léon Reutter (1899-1971). From his youth, he was preoccupied by the idea of industrially producing a clock that could be wound by atmospheric fluctuations, and in 1928 he succeeded. Reutter’s patent was first licensed to a French company who exploited it until 1935. Subsequently, it was purchased by Jaeger LeCoultre. After difficult early years, by 1979 there were half a million such clocks which quickly became popular and prestigious gifts for the important heads of states during their visits to Switzerland. The keeping of aquariums in the home became very popular from the 1950’s and the use of tropical fish as decoration on all manner of things has become a
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-11-12
