ATTRIBUTED TO PIGUET & CAPT.

ATTRIBUTED TO PIGUET & CAPT., SWITZERLAND, “THE MUSICAL HARP” WATCH, IN THE FORM OF A HARP, MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET, GOLD AND ENAMEL An exceptional and very rare gold, enamel, pearl and diamonds set, manual wind musical pendant watch in the form of a harp. The front of the soundboard finely painted in enamel depicting classical pastoral trophies, including a sun hat, quiver of arrows, bow, floral garland and ribbon. The watch set below within a pearl-set frame, with a white enamel dial, Arabic numerals and outer minute track. Blued steel “spade” hands. One side of the column decorated in translucent Imperial blue enamel over flinqué with a quiver of arrows, the opposite side with a central medallion depicting a mandolin, surrounded by a border of split pearls. Enamelled column with ornate capital and pearl swags, with gold twisted-rope strings and diamond-set tuning pegs. Brand: Attributed to Piguet & Capt., Switzerland Year: Circa 1805 Caliber: Trapezoidal, 18 x 17 mm, frosted gilt full-plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement brass balance with flat balance spring, continental cock. Musical: barillet type with seven stacked tuned vibrating blades, five-wheel train, eccentric bushing speed regulating. Width: 21 Weight: 45 mm. Height: 83 Length: 66 Grading System: EXCEPTIONAL Case: 3-24 (Good , Slightly chipped) Dial: 3-72-01 (Good , Chipped winding aperture , HANDS Original) Movement: 3* (Good , Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense) HKD: 286,000 - 580,000 USD: 36,500 - 73,000 EUR: 32,400 - 65,000 JPY: 5,760,000 - 11,510,000 A similar harp is in the Historisches Museum in Basel, inv. 1982.1050. Piguet & Capt. Isaac Daniel Piguet (1775 - 1841) and Henry Capt (1775 - 1841) were partners from 1802 to 1811. They specialized in musical and automaton watches but also made very fine musical pieces with automata. Two small musical movements with five tuned teeth, playing tunes on five notes, were among their first, made in 1802. In 1811 Piguet became associated with Meylan, forming another famous firm, Piguet et Meylan.

Estimate:£27,260.61

View all items fromAntiquorumorWatches & Clocks