91st Auction
2015/5/16
Lot 647
Auguste Saltzman, Chaux de Fonds, Movement No. 1387, Case No. 1387, 58 mm, 225 g, circa 1875
A nearly as new, exceptionally heavy minute repeating hunting case pocket watch with stoppable "Seconde Foudroyante" and stoppable independent centre seconds - with original box
Case: 18k gold, engine-turned, decorated, reeded band, à goutte, numbered and signed gold dome with presentation engraving: "Ephraim Owen", pusher for seconds stop, slide for repeating mechanism. Dial: enamel, radial Roman hours, 1/4 seconde foudrayante, independent jumping centre seconds with stopping device, signed, blued Breguet hands. Movm.: bridge movement, Cal. "Louis Audemars", signed, nickel-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 2 hammers / 2 gongs, 2 barrels, gold train, "Patented June1858 Indept Quarter Seconds", tandem winding with mirror polished click on the top, gold screw compensation balance, counterpoised lever.
Auguste Saltzman
The family of Auguste Napoleon Saltzman, as was his full name, came from Les Bois in the Canton of Bern. Saltzman was born there on October 11, 1810; when he was about 10, his parents Auguste and Maria Anna Saltzman, née Gouvernon, emigrated to Carthage, New York. Seven years later, however, young Auguste was sent back to Switzerland to do an apprenticeship as a watchmaker. In 1840 he was back in the US to open a watch and clock shop in State Street in Carthage; in 1845 the "A.N. Saltzman & Co." moved to 10 Maiden Lane, New York. On June 16, 1855 the premises in Maiden Lane were destroyed in a huge explosion that occurred at fireworks manufacturers Demkins & Robins in the same building. Saltzman’s nephew and a man named Eugen T. Preudhomme died in the explosion and the total damages came to about $50,000 - of which only $10,000 were covered by insurance. As business was good, however, the losses were soon recouped.
In 1857 Saltzman went into partnership with the designer and inventor Charles Ed. Jacot in La Chaux de Fonds; from there they applied for a number of patents for the company "A. Saltzmann, Jacot & Co." in New York.
The two partners presumably continued to sign their work individually. In 1870 the company "Saltzmann & Vuille" in Plainfield, New Jersey, was founded. In 1884 Saltzman put his home in Plainfield up for sale or rent - 12 rooms, ready-furnished, in prime location. He left America around 1885 and moved to Paris, where he lived for the rest of his life. The date of his death is not known.
A nearly as new, exceptionally heavy minute repeating hunting case pocket watch with stoppable "Seconde Foudroyante" and stoppable independent centre seconds - with original box
Case: 18k gold, engine-turned, decorated, reeded band, à goutte, numbered and signed gold dome with presentation engraving: "Ephraim Owen", pusher for seconds stop, slide for repeating mechanism. Dial: enamel, radial Roman hours, 1/4 seconde foudrayante, independent jumping centre seconds with stopping device, signed, blued Breguet hands. Movm.: bridge movement, Cal. "Louis Audemars", signed, nickel-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 2 hammers / 2 gongs, 2 barrels, gold train, "Patented June1858 Indept Quarter Seconds", tandem winding with mirror polished click on the top, gold screw compensation balance, counterpoised lever.
Auguste Saltzman
The family of Auguste Napoleon Saltzman, as was his full name, came from Les Bois in the Canton of Bern. Saltzman was born there on October 11, 1810; when he was about 10, his parents Auguste and Maria Anna Saltzman, née Gouvernon, emigrated to Carthage, New York. Seven years later, however, young Auguste was sent back to Switzerland to do an apprenticeship as a watchmaker. In 1840 he was back in the US to open a watch and clock shop in State Street in Carthage; in 1845 the "A.N. Saltzman & Co." moved to 10 Maiden Lane, New York. On June 16, 1855 the premises in Maiden Lane were destroyed in a huge explosion that occurred at fireworks manufacturers Demkins & Robins in the same building. Saltzman’s nephew and a man named Eugen T. Preudhomme died in the explosion and the total damages came to about $50,000 - of which only $10,000 were covered by insurance. As business was good, however, the losses were soon recouped.
In 1857 Saltzman went into partnership with the designer and inventor Charles Ed. Jacot in La Chaux de Fonds; from there they applied for a number of patents for the company "A. Saltzmann, Jacot & Co." in New York.
The two partners presumably continued to sign their work individually. In 1870 the company "Saltzmann & Vuille" in Plainfield, New Jersey, was founded. In 1884 Saltzman put his home in Plainfield up for sale or rent - 12 rooms, ready-furnished, in prime location. He left America around 1885 and moved to Paris, where he lived for the rest of his life. The date of his death is not known.
Sold
estimated
17.000—25.000 €
Price realized
25.500 €