SWISS. A FINE AND RARE 18K PINK GOLD AND ENAMEL DOUBLE SIDED MUSICAL AUTOMATON LE THEATRE WATCH

UNSIGNED, CIRCA 1820

Details

SWISS. A FINE AND RARE 18K PINK GOLD AND ENAMEL DOUBLE SIDED MUSICAL AUTOMATON LE THEATRE WATCH
unsigned, circa 1820
With gilt-finished cylinder movement, three arm balance, music cylinder, the white enamel dial with Breguet numerals, the double body case with fluted band, the reverse with exceptional automaton scene depicting a four colour gold theatre with a couple dancing before a mirror, moving to the center they greet each other and return to their original positions, two further automatons flank the collonade room, a gentleman with a taping stick and a lady at the harp playing in beat to the music, they are surrounded by a light blue enamel background, the theatre is crowned with cupula with red translucent enamel back set within a blue translucent enamel background.
62 mm diam.

Sale room notice

Please note this watch will only play music on request and not on the hour as noted in the catalogue.

Lot Essay

Double sided automaton watches are one of the rarest mechanical timepieces to be found in the field of horology. The present watch is thought to have been produced in the Neuchatel region of Switzerland. It is a fine example of a doubled sided automaton with the added complication of playing music at will or on the hour. There are few known examples of these fine pieces. Other known watches are the Tightrope Dancer and Moses. A similar Le Theatre automaton watch sold in 1996 for Chf363,000.