Cogs and Pieces

Description

Claude Viet
London, c1705
Silver pair cases, 59 mm.
Verge escapement with mock pendulum

An early and very unusual London verge with a wonderful enamel cover to balance cock with a mock pendulum, in silver pair cases. All in good condition

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, the large balance bridge covered with a beautiful polychrome enamel plaque. Very unusual mock pendulum featuring a gilt butterfly as the bob. Four Egyptian pillars, nicely pierced stop work gate, silver regulator disk and blued screws.

Signed “Viet, London”.

There are some scratches around the balance bridge feet, but generally in very good condition and running well.

DIAL : Silver champleve dial, in very good condition. Signed “VIET, LONDON” below a cherub’s mask on the central disc. Fancy gilt hands.

INNER CASE : Very deep silver case, with no maker’s marks. Glazed to the back to show the enamel balance plaque.

In good condition throughout, though the stem may have been reattached. The hinge and the high dome bull’s eye crystal are fine and the bezel closes correctly. There are some scratches to the rear crystal.

OUTER CASE : Silver pair case, with cut away to the back to show the enamel. Again no maker’s mark.

Again in good condition. The hinge and catch are fine and the case closes correctly.

Claude Viet was a Huguenot watchmaker and native of Orléans. He moved to London although the exact date of his move is not known. Records start with his marriage in 1696 and in 1698 Viet was free from the Watchmaker’s Company. His daughter Mariane was apprenticed to him in 1714.
Viet was Watchmaker to Queen Caroline’ (wife of George II) and died in 1734.
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