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AN AMUSING SWISS GILT AND GREEN-PAINTED METAL AND SILVER GILT FLOATING TURTLE MYSTERY TIMEPIECE

E. GÜBELIN, LUCERNE, CIRCA 1925

Details

AN AMUSING SWISS GILT AND GREEN-PAINTED METAL AND SILVER GILT FLOATING TURTLE MYSTERY TIMEPIECE
E. GÜBELIN, LUCERNE, CIRCA 1925
The circular base with acanthus ornament and supporting a dished dial with Roman chapter ring with quarter hour calibrations, hallmarks to the reverse for HH & CIE, the time indicated by a turtle floating in water, the single barrel movement with silvered platform to bimetallic lever balance, driving a ring magnet to impulse the turtle, the top plate signed 6228 E. Gübelin Lucerne; two keys
24.5 cm. diameter (3)

Special notice

Christie's charge a premium to the buyer on the final bid price of each lot sold at the following rates: 23.8% of the final bid price of each lot sold up to and including €150,000 and 14.28% of any amount in excess of €150,000. Buyers' premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.

Sale room notice

Please note that this lot is subject to a reserve.

Lot Essay

Gübelin was founded as a watchmaking business by Jakob Josef Mauritz Breitschmid in 1854. The firm subsequently flourished under the direction of his son-in-law Jakob Eduard Gübelin, as the town of Lucerne became a tourist centre. The company moved to larger premises at Schweizer Hofquai in 1903. Following the appointment of his son, Eduard Moritz Gübelin, as director in 1919 the firm also began to make jewellery and started to produce small numbers of high quality clocks.
A Gübelin turtle clock of related design was sold Sotheby's New York, Masterpieces from the Time Museum, Part Four, Vol I, 13 October 2004 (Time Museum Inventory No.36).

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