3,540 CHF
“Quarter Repeating” Frères Esquivillon & De Choudens, Genève, No. 22556. Made circa 1780. Very fine and rare, early 20K gold and enamel simulating bloodstone, quarter-repeating, à toc watch with à tact option. Two-body, “Louis XV”, the back decorated with enamel simulating bloodstone with gold appliqué forming an arch with blue enamel side entrances, flower basket in the center, military trophy below, the bezel and border chased and engraved with a repeated pattern. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track with five-minute Arabic numerals, winding aperture at 2. Steel "beetle and poker" hands. 33 mm, hinged, frosted gilt full-plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, brass three-arm balance with flat balance spring, pierced and chased foliate continental type balance cock, silver regulation dial, repeating on bell (missing) activated by depressing the pendant, à tact lever at 8 o’clock. Dial and movement signed. Diam. 43 mm. To be sold without reserve Notes This watch has a very rare and unusual form of decoration in which the enamel is used to simulate bloodstone. Esquivillon et Dechoudens Jean-François Esquivillon and Gédéon-François Esquivillon, associated with Jacques Dechoudens, are recorded as working between 1776 and 1800, were Master horologists who made gold and enamel watches with quarter repeating.Dictionnaire des horlogers genevoois, Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquourum Editions, 1998.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-05-14
