Lot 84

Gilles Martinot

A very beautiful and rare Parisian Louis XIV "oignon" verge pocket watch with alarm

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The back of the silver case is engraved with concentric circles and features small sound holes. The firegilt engraved brass dial has baroque-style white enamel cartouches with black enamel Roman hours and a single blued iron hand. The gilt alarm disc with floral engraving sits in the centre and has a tulip-shaped hand. The magnificent firegilt full plate movement is has Egyptian pillars as well as an unusually large Louis XIV balance bridge with exquisite foliage decoration. The alarm mechanism sits inside an openwork barrel ornamented with delicate flower tendrils.

Gilles (II) Martinot was born in 1658, the son of Balthazar Martinot I. (1610-1697) and Catherine Hubert. In 1687 he married Élisabeth Lejeune. In 1702 he formed a partnership with his oldest brother Balthazar Martinot II. and Jean de Hautefeuille to create watches that were fitted with balance springs developed by Hautefeuille. Gilles Martinot died on February 5th, 1726 at Rue de Harley in Paris.