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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · La Chaux-de-Fonds

Watch with automata

Verified

The silver case has a fluted caseband.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH I-159
Object type
Pocket watch
Place of production
La Chaux-de-Fonds
Dating
1790 - 1810
Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
argent, émail, laiton doré
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions min/max: 51 x 60 mm
Inscriptions (catalogue)
Robert & Courvoisier (Cadran); Robert et Courvoisier N° 50272 (Mouvement)

Historical significance

  • The silver case has a fluted caseband.
  • The traditional hands are replaced by a gilded brass automaton which, when the pendant is pressed, indicates the hours with its left hand and the minutes with its right hand. The hours and minutes are painted in Arabic numerals on an enamel ground.
  • The pillar movement has a fusee with chain and a verge escapement. The upper plate has a gilded brass balance cock, engraved and pierced with symmetrical scrolls.

Photographs

Watch with automata (MIH I-159)
Watch with automata (MIH I-159) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Watch with automata (MIH I-159)
Watch with automata (MIH I-159) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record

Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.

Sources & references

  1. Musée international d'horlogerie, online collection record, inv. I-159: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/40031/

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.