Lot 147

Berthoud à Paris, 42 mm, 65 g, circa 1770
An extremely rare, very fine gold enamel quarter repeating "à trois couleurs" verge pocket watch "montre à toc et à tact" - with matching gold enamel chatelaine
Case: 22k rose gold, rear bell. Dial: enamel. Movm.: full plate movement, chain/fusee, triangular brass balance.
This marvellous ensemble of a verge pocket watch and its chatelaine is studded with paste stones. The watch has a polychrome enamel medallion on the back cover with the miniature portrait of a noble lady drinking hot chocolate. The portrait is framed by three-colour gold flower tendrils and set with paste stones. The matching gold chatelaine with signet and watch key composed of silver, marcasite stones and gold and has two polychrome miniature enamel portraits of noble ladies; length: 120 mm.

This watch was made by Berthoud à Paris when the firm was already well established. It had been founded by Ferdinand Berthoud (1727-1807), who emigrated to Paris from Switzerland in 1747. Bertoud was not only an eminent watchmaker but also the author of several books on the history, theory, and practice of watchmaking.
Lit.: Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute

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