95th Auction
2017/5/6
Lot 136
Swiss, 59 mm, 152 g, circa 1810
A gentleman's attractive gold enamel quarter repeating pocket watch with automaton and 3 Jacquemarts, studded with half pearls
Case: 18k gold, translucent and opaque enamel, split pearls. Dial: enamel chapter ring. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, 2 hammers, 2 gongs, three-arm brass balance.
The top half of the two-part gold Jaquemart "á trois couleurs" shows an opening in the form of a balcony with automaton; a knight strikes on a bell. The lower half shows two putti in front of a temple, striking a bell. The back of the watch has been decorated with a petal-shaped medallion with translucent cobalt blue enamel on engine-turned ground which is framed by a small border of opaque white and light blue enamel with engraved gold ornaments. The bezels on front and back are studded with half-pearls.
To the best of our knowledge no other pocket watch of this type with three Jacquemarts and automaton exists in such remarkable condition and with such extravagant case ornamentation - this is undoubtedly a unique and extremely rare piece!
The automaton Jacks on the dial refer to the Medieval way of public time announcing which was by real people striking every hour on a bell situated at the top of the city tower. Later, life-size robots, called Jacquemarts or Jacks, amused public by striking bells in large public clocks, of which, probably the most famous is the one in Venice at Piaza San Marco and the oldest (1383) in the tower of Dijon.
A gentleman's attractive gold enamel quarter repeating pocket watch with automaton and 3 Jacquemarts, studded with half pearls
Case: 18k gold, translucent and opaque enamel, split pearls. Dial: enamel chapter ring. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, 2 hammers, 2 gongs, three-arm brass balance.
The top half of the two-part gold Jaquemart "á trois couleurs" shows an opening in the form of a balcony with automaton; a knight strikes on a bell. The lower half shows two putti in front of a temple, striking a bell. The back of the watch has been decorated with a petal-shaped medallion with translucent cobalt blue enamel on engine-turned ground which is framed by a small border of opaque white and light blue enamel with engraved gold ornaments. The bezels on front and back are studded with half-pearls.
To the best of our knowledge no other pocket watch of this type with three Jacquemarts and automaton exists in such remarkable condition and with such extravagant case ornamentation - this is undoubtedly a unique and extremely rare piece!
The automaton Jacks on the dial refer to the Medieval way of public time announcing which was by real people striking every hour on a bell situated at the top of the city tower. Later, life-size robots, called Jacquemarts or Jacks, amused public by striking bells in large public clocks, of which, probably the most famous is the one in Venice at Piaza San Marco and the oldest (1383) in the tower of Dijon.
Sold
estimated
29.000—40.000 €
Price realized
37.500 €