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Lot Essay
The present watch is a particularly fine and rare example of an automaton watch featuring an extremely complex automata comprising three different scenes: two small putti striking the hours and quarter hours to the top while simultaneously a procession including five passers-by, a goose and a mule passes over the bridge under which a fisherman lifts his catch out of the streaming river.
The vari-colour gold scene is of highest quality and impresses by its richness and the finely carved details such as the four animals near the fisherman and the equestrian statue.
The superb quality of the painted enamel background scene depicting a town with snow-covered mountains in the rear illustrates the celebrated art of enamel miniatures originating from Geneva in the early 19th century.
Philippe Du Bois & Fils originated with the watchmaker Philippe Du Bois the father in Le Locle around 1720. The son of the same name (1738 - 1808) became his father's partner in 1766. A so-called merchant watchmaker he took care of both technical and commercial organisation of the watch industry. Amongst the watchmakers working for Philippe Du Bois were several sons of the famous Daniel Jean-Richard.
For over two centuries, Philippe Du Bois et Fils was one of most eminent firms in the Neuchâtel area.
A watch featuring a similar automata scene (B. Franck Collection, Paris) is described and illustrated in Le Monde des Automates by Alfred Chapuis et Edouard Gélis, Tome Second, pp. 62-64, fig. 344.
For a "perpetuelle" quarter repeating watch signed Du Bois & Fils see lot 377 in this auction.
The vari-colour gold scene is of highest quality and impresses by its richness and the finely carved details such as the four animals near the fisherman and the equestrian statue.
The superb quality of the painted enamel background scene depicting a town with snow-covered mountains in the rear illustrates the celebrated art of enamel miniatures originating from Geneva in the early 19th century.
Philippe Du Bois & Fils originated with the watchmaker Philippe Du Bois the father in Le Locle around 1720. The son of the same name (1738 - 1808) became his father's partner in 1766. A so-called merchant watchmaker he took care of both technical and commercial organisation of the watch industry. Amongst the watchmakers working for Philippe Du Bois were several sons of the famous Daniel Jean-Richard.
For over two centuries, Philippe Du Bois et Fils was one of most eminent firms in the Neuchâtel area.
A watch featuring a similar automata scene (B. Franck Collection, Paris) is described and illustrated in Le Monde des Automates by Alfred Chapuis et Edouard Gélis, Tome Second, pp. 62-64, fig. 344.
For a "perpetuelle" quarter repeating watch signed Du Bois & Fils see lot 377 in this auction.