319. Swiss
An exceptional and very rare three colour gold key
wound openface verge watch with seven automata
瑞士，非常精細及罕有，彩金七段式活動人偶懷錶，“廚房”，
約1800年製
Manufacturer
Year
Swiss
Circa 1800
Case No.
Material
Calibre
Dimensions
Bow numbered 5857
3 colour gold
Verge escapement
56.5 mm. diameter
Estimate
HKD 620,000-1,000,000
USD 80,000-120,000
Literature
The present watch is prominently featured in
Le Monde des Automates by Alfred Chapuis,
page 57 fig. 331.
Automations started to appear in
Geneva in the late 18th century.
They were small, technical marvels
imitating the movements of living
creatures ranging from figures whose
arms would indicate the time, to
exceedingly complex works that tell
a complete story.
The present watch features a household
scene, with different objects moving to
illustrate a busy day in the kitchen. When
the watch is wound and the automata is
activated, the lady’s hand moves back
and forth as if she is sewing. Her foot
steps on the pedal, and then the sewing
machine activates with its wheel spinning
fiercely. The hearth, containing a spit with
a turning roast in front of the automated
flames is automated by the turning wheel
and the dog inside is independently
moving back and forth, and finally the
water fall is nicely flowing. With seven
separate actions, this watch is certainly
one of the more complicated automatas
from the period.
In addition to the fine technical aspects of
this automata, the quality throughout is
exceptional and the condition is extremely
well preserved, from the finely painted
polychrome enamel, to the superbly
crafted three colour gold scene. Of overall
exceptional quality, the present watch is a
fine example of Swiss automata published
prominently in Le Monde des Automates
by Alfred Chapuis.
Illustration of the present watch in Le Monde des Automates
HK WATCHES_NOV15_420-575_bl_CS5.indd 474
22/10/15 15:14