The Art of Horology in Geneva

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 13, 1999

LOT 74

Attributable to Louis Duchêne & Fils, Geneva,circa 1810.Le ThéatreVery fine and extremely rare 18K gold, musical automaton watch.C Double body, "forme quatre baguettes", polished with fluted band and glazed back. D. Silver engine-turned with Roman numerals on a polished chapter ring. Gold Breguet hands. Exceptional four-coloured gold automaton scene on the reverse, depicting a finely chased theatre stage flanked by two figures beating time. A dancing couple is revolving on the stage, in front of a mirror. M. Two trains inverted gilt brass full plate. Going train with going barrel, cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arbalance, flat balance spring with regulator. Musical train driving the automata, with pinned cylinder and a comb of six pairs of tuned teeth.Diam. 62 mm.

CHF 70,000 - 90,000


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: * 3
Dial: 4-5-6-01

Fair

Poor

Slightly oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

A similar watch, signed by Louis Duchêne & Fils, fitted with an almost identical movement, was sold by Antiquorum on April 21, 1996, lot 258.Alongside the "Moses" watch and the "Tightrope Dancer", the "Theatre" watches may be considered as the rarest automaton watches. To date, no more than four are known to have survived, all different from each other, including the watch now offered for sale. The three others are described and illustrated byA. Chapuis and E. Gélis in Le Monde des Automates, pp. 53 to 56, one, previously in the G. Loup Collection, is now in the Sandoz Collection on loan to the Locle Museum in the Château des Monts, another was in the Sir David Salomons Collection, the location of the third one, previously in the Gélis Collection, is not known.Louis Duchêne, (1730-1804)Master watchmaker, son of Jacob, Louis was namely specialised in repeating pendant watches with automata.From 1791 Louis Duchêne took his son into partnership, establishing the company Duchêne Louis et Fils. They made painted enamel or polychrome enamel coach watches with Petite et Grande Sonnerie, date, minute repetition or jumping hours, and also produced form watches with classical movements. After is death in 1804, Louis was succeeded by his son who confirmed the business with the same company name until 1820..From 1820 to 1840, the name of the company changed to Duchêne Louis et Cie., and, after 1840, became Duchêne & Peyrot.