French silver gold and enamel verge pocket watch Circa 1787

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Kenmerk
DT0697
Diameter
55 mm
Estimate
€ 10.000 - 20.000
Price sold
€ 18.750

Silver, gold and enamel watch with date
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A silver, gold and enamel hunting cased pocket watch with verge escapement and date made during the French revolutionary period, circa 1787.
The case was made by Jean-Louis-Gabriel Gillet, the main spring is signed and dated “Monginos, Janvier 1788”.
Silver, pink gold, enamel case, Case maker’s punch mark “JLG” (Jean-Louis-Gabriel Gillet), charge mark crossed double “L”: Henri Clavel (1783-1789), Parisian guild punch mark “P87” of 1787. Enamel dial, full plate movement, chain/fusee, three-arm brass balance. Both spring lids are decorated with radial engine turning and translucent cobalt blue enamelling. The front shows a stylised red gold baroque style initial M, the back has a corresponding A. White enamel dial with Arabic numerals and a 31-day date that is offset towards the inside.
Whether the initials M and A stand for Marie Antionette cannot be verified. Very unusual though is the fact that the rather plain silver case (which is typical for cases made during this period) has been decorated with fine gold bands and gold Champlevé enamel. The watch was created by a renowned watchmaker of the Royal Academy and does not bear any extravagant ornamentation; the initials and some of the borders, however, were made of gold. Likewise, the use of a closed hunting case is uncommon and very rare for pieces created in that period of time.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 115 g
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Signed:  Charles Bertrand, Horloger de l’Academie Royale des Sciences   Paris
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Charles Bertrand a well-known watchmaker to the French Academy of Sciences, is known for having made equation clocks and other complicated timepieces. Jean-Louis-Gabriel Gillet was a master casemaker. At the time of Bertrand’s death, he was owed 13,000 livres.

Signed: Charles Bertrand, Horloger de l\’Academie Royale des Sciences Paris

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