George Margetts, London

Exceptionally rare gilt, paste and pearl-set openface manually-wound two train double-dial musical automaton centre seconds coach watch, made for the Chinese Market
George Margetts, London Exceptionally rare gilt, paste and pearl-set openface manually-wound two train double-dial musical automaton centre seconds coach watch, made for the Chinese Market

CIRCA 1780

Details
George Margetts, London

Exceptionally rare gilt, paste and pearl-set openface manually-wound two train double-dial musical automaton centre seconds coach watch, made for the Chinese Market
CIRCA 1780
Gilt-finished two train cylinder movement, chain fusee, musical pin barrel, playing on a nest of five bells on the hour or at will, white enamel dial, small hour dial with Roman numerals, outer Arabic 60 seconds divisions, centre seconds hand, two subsidiary dials for "dance/song" and "faster/slower", visible finely pierced floral decorated gilt brass balance cock, diamond endstone, reverse with a finely painted landscape surmounted by an automaton scene depicting a harlequin tightrope dancer, dancing on the rope with moving legs and body in unison with the music, marvelled at by a gentleman and a lady looking out of her house, large circular case, bezel and rim set with alternating split pearls and ruby pastes, finely pierced and engraved foliage decorated band, music and automaton activated by depressing a ruby-set button in the pendant, dial signed
Diameter : 90 mm.

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Lot Essay

US$45,000-65,000
The present watch is a highly unusual example of Margetts' work. With its attractive combination of a large, lavishly decorated case, two dials and a musical automaton, it is the perfect example for such a timepiece made by special order for a Chinese dignitary. The automaton scene representing a tightrope walker is of finest quality, the complicated movement allows choosing if one wishes the music, "song", or the automaton, "dance", as well as the speed "faster - slower".

A similar double dial watch signed George Margetts featuring an automaton scene depicting boats and a watermill was sold during The Art of British Horology, Antiquorum Geneva, 21 October 1995, lot 192.

The first "Chinese Market" watches were made by Jesuit missionaries during the Ming Dynasty in the late 16th century. The Emperors had an avid interest in horological and astronomical instruments, which allowed the missionaries to enter China.

By the late 18th century, Chinese patrons requested only the finest watches, featuring complicated movements such as repeating, music or automatons. To satisfy their desire for aesthetics, the cases had to be highly enamelled with motifs representing nature or classical scenes, set with pearls and precious stones. Many of these marvels were made for the Imperial Palace in Beijing.

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