Lot 119

Case maker's punch mark "IFS", Swiss, 57 mm, 142 g, circa 1810
A unique verge pocket watch with calendar and ornamental regulator dial with hiking hands made of polychrome enamelled butterflies in the manner of Benjamin Franklin
Case: silver. Dial: enamel. Movm.: full plate movement, chain/fusee, three-arm brass balance.
The white enamel dial is divided in four sections, with two small auxiliary chapter rings for the date at 12 and the month at 6. Two blue enamel ovals sit at 9 and 3 to display the hours and the minutes; their hands are in the form of two colourful, gold-set enamel butterflies with blued screws for eyes. They are fitted with flexible steel tongues that follow the course of the oval chapter rings and make for an unusual indication of the hours and minutes - a mechanism created after a design by Benjamin Franklin. We know of no other pocket watch with such a striking display of the time!

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