Live Auction 1372Important Watches Including A CONNOISSEUR'S VISION PART II
Christie’s roundel
Lot 325

Swiss. A rare and attractive 18K pink gold and enamel double dial automaton watch

UNSIGNED, CIRCA 1820

Closed10 May 2010

Price Realised

CHF 68,750

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Swiss. A rare and attractive 18K pink gold and enamel double dial automaton watch
Unsigned, circa 1820
Gilt-finished keywound movement, white enamel dial, Breguet numerals, outer five minute divisions, an applied vari-colour gold automaton scene to the reverse depicting a riding hunter holding a falcon, the horse drinking water from the fountain with realistically running water, the horse's head moving up and down, a painted polychrome enamel lakeside scene to the back depicting a windmill with turning gold vanes, translucent dark blue sky on engine-turned sunburst background, circular case, blue enamel and pearl-set bezels, automaton start/stop lever in the engine-turned band, unsigned
59 mm. diam.

Specialist note

The present watch is a fine example of an automaton watch most likely made in Geneva around 1820, featuring four automatons: the horse drinking water from the fountain by lifting its head up and down while simultaneously two streams of water are realistically running and the windmill's vanes are turning.

The vari-colour gold scene is of exquisite quality and impresses by the finely carved details, enhanced by the finely painted enamel background lakeside view, demonstrating the celebrated art of enamel miniatures originating from Geneva in the early 19th century.