Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 133

The Butterfly Piguet et Meylan, Geneva, No. 1185, case by "GR", made for the Chinese Market circa 1815. Very fine and very rare 18K gold and enamel, musical box in a shape of a butterfly fitted with a watch.

C. Four-body, hinged wings, one revealing the watch, the other a compartment, finely painted on enamel, gold thorax and head over translucent dark blue enamel, white enamel edges, sides with translucent dark blue enamel over flinqué pattern partially painted in black, the bottom in translucent dark blue enamel over wave engine-turning, painted in a black geometrical pattern. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute track. Blued steel unusual skeleton hands. M. Following the shape of the case, brass, fixed barrel, cylinder escapement, three-arm plain brass balance with flat balance spring. Musical movement: sur plateau, fixed barrel, pinned disc with pins on both sides, 22 separate tuned teeth, eight-wheel train, last pinion set in adjustable eccentric bushing as governor. Punched and numbered with the maker?s mark on the movement. Dim. 72 x 43 x 16 mm.