98th Auction
2018/11/10
Lot 85
Henry Capt à Genève, Case No. 567, 57 mm, 120 g, circa 1810
An important Geneva gold pocket watch with musical movement and automaton
Case: 18k rose gold, engraved monogram, reeded band, case maker's punch mark "ID". Dial: gold, finely engraved automaton scene, eccentric chapter ring with inlaid Arabic hours and engine-turned centre. Movm.: full plate movement, cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance, musical movement with tuned vibrating blades.
The engraved scene with automaton shows a lady in a park, playing the harp while a pigeon is bathing in a nearby fountain. The harpist plucks the strings with her right hand and a winged putto at her feet listens raptly to the music.
Henry Capt (1773-1841) was an independent watchmaker who specialised in watches with additional functions such as musical watches and automatons; Capt was one of the first in Geneva to use barrels and crowns in his automatons. Born in Chenit in the Vallée de Joux in April 1773, he was the son of Jaques Samuel Capt and Susanne Piguet. On January 1, 1796, he married Henriette Piguet. Around 1789 Capt settled in Geneva and worked for several renowned companies such as Jaquet-Droz, Godet, Leschot and his brother-in-law Isaac Daniel Piguet. In 1802 he went into partnership with Daniel Isaac Piguet, which lasted until 1811. When this partnership ended, Capt kept producing his own pieces for some time before entering another partnership with Aubert et Fils in 1830. The firm was taken over by his son, Henry Capt, in 1844. A shop was opened on the Rue du Rhône in 1855 which became quickly famous. During the 1870s, the Henry Capt company advertised that they were the only Geneva watch manufacturer to have a branch retail house in London. Branches were also established in Paris, Nice and New York.
An important Geneva gold pocket watch with musical movement and automaton
Case: 18k rose gold, engraved monogram, reeded band, case maker's punch mark "ID". Dial: gold, finely engraved automaton scene, eccentric chapter ring with inlaid Arabic hours and engine-turned centre. Movm.: full plate movement, cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance, musical movement with tuned vibrating blades.
The engraved scene with automaton shows a lady in a park, playing the harp while a pigeon is bathing in a nearby fountain. The harpist plucks the strings with her right hand and a winged putto at her feet listens raptly to the music.
Henry Capt (1773-1841) was an independent watchmaker who specialised in watches with additional functions such as musical watches and automatons; Capt was one of the first in Geneva to use barrels and crowns in his automatons. Born in Chenit in the Vallée de Joux in April 1773, he was the son of Jaques Samuel Capt and Susanne Piguet. On January 1, 1796, he married Henriette Piguet. Around 1789 Capt settled in Geneva and worked for several renowned companies such as Jaquet-Droz, Godet, Leschot and his brother-in-law Isaac Daniel Piguet. In 1802 he went into partnership with Daniel Isaac Piguet, which lasted until 1811. When this partnership ended, Capt kept producing his own pieces for some time before entering another partnership with Aubert et Fils in 1830. The firm was taken over by his son, Henry Capt, in 1844. A shop was opened on the Rue du Rhône in 1855 which became quickly famous. During the 1870s, the Henry Capt company advertised that they were the only Geneva watch manufacturer to have a branch retail house in London. Branches were also established in Paris, Nice and New York.
Sold
estimated
8.000—20.000 €
Price realized
13.700 €