Vienna / Jean-Francois Bautte à Genève, Movement No. 52661, Height 100 mm, circa 1830

An ornamental silver and enamel Neo-Renaissance miniature table clock studded with pearls and garnets: "The Bacchante" - with original leather case
Case: silver and enamel, lapis lazuli, garnets and pearls. Finely carved oval base, translucent polychrome Cloisonnée flower tendrils and set gemstones, lapis lazuli plate. On the plate is a chariot with the bacchante, drawn by two goats that are driven by a boy brandishing a rod. The wheels are in the form of a silver drum with fine floral engraving; one of the wheels carries the clock. Dial: silver, white enamel cartouches with radial Roman numerals, florally engraved centre, Louis XV hands. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, frosted, gilt, signed, chain/fusee, solid movement pillars, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance, fine florally engraved and pierced balance bridge.

Jean-Francois Bautte (1772-1837)
Bautte lost his parents very early and began his apprenticeship at the age of 12; he learned the crafts of case making, engine-turning, watchmaking and also that of a jeweller. From 1779 on Bautte worked with the case maker Moulinié, and the watchmaker Moynier joined the company around 1804; the company called itself "Moulinié, Bautte & Moynier" from then on. At the time Bautte was the most renowned purveyor of watches in Geneva. The perfect workmanship which used only the finest gold and enamel in marvellous colours impressed the customers enormously - such quality was usually only to be found in Paris or London.