94th Auction
2016/11/12
Lot 164
Jean-Francois Bautte & Cie à Genève, Case No. 50247, 45 mm, 66 g, circa 1820
A rare, thin gold enamel pocket watch with floral champlevé enamel decor and turnable case - so called "Cabriolet" - wearable as a lepine or as hunting cased watch with quarter repeater by withdrawing and turning the pendant
Case: gold, the back side with family crest and motto: "PRO DEO ET REGE PRO PATRIA ET LEGE" ("For God and King, for country and law"). Dial: gold, central Champlevé enamel. Movm.: "Lepine" caliber, keywind, 2 hammers, 2 gongs, ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm balance.
Jean-Francois Bautte (1772-1837) lost his parents very early and began his apprenticeship at the age of 12; he learned the crafts of case making, engine-turning, watchmaking and also that of a jeweller. From 1779 on Bautte worked with the case maker Moulinié, and the watchmaker Moynier joined the company around 1804; the company called itself "Moulinié, Bautte & Moynier" from then on. At the time Bautte was the most renowned purveyor of watches in Geneva. The perfect workmanship which used only the finest gold and enamel in marvellous colours impressed the customers enormously - such quality was usually only to be found in Paris or London.
A rare, thin gold enamel pocket watch with floral champlevé enamel decor and turnable case - so called "Cabriolet" - wearable as a lepine or as hunting cased watch with quarter repeater by withdrawing and turning the pendant
Case: gold, the back side with family crest and motto: "PRO DEO ET REGE PRO PATRIA ET LEGE" ("For God and King, for country and law"). Dial: gold, central Champlevé enamel. Movm.: "Lepine" caliber, keywind, 2 hammers, 2 gongs, ruby cylinder escapement, three-arm balance.
Jean-Francois Bautte (1772-1837) lost his parents very early and began his apprenticeship at the age of 12; he learned the crafts of case making, engine-turning, watchmaking and also that of a jeweller. From 1779 on Bautte worked with the case maker Moulinié, and the watchmaker Moynier joined the company around 1804; the company called itself "Moulinié, Bautte & Moynier" from then on. At the time Bautte was the most renowned purveyor of watches in Geneva. The perfect workmanship which used only the finest gold and enamel in marvellous colours impressed the customers enormously - such quality was usually only to be found in Paris or London.
Sold
estimated
3.000—8.000 €
Price realized
3.400 €