A10818
Rare Ballooning Scene Three Colour Gold Verge
£3,200.00
Signed
Vauchez a Paris
Circa 1785
Diameter 45 mm Depth 10 mm
Circa 1785
Diameter 45 mm Depth 10 mm
Out of stock
Description
A late 18th Century French verge in a three colour gold consular case depicting an early ballooning scene. Full plate gilt fusee movement. Finely pierced and engraved bridge cock with steel coqueret, plain three arm gilt balance with blue steel spiral hairspring. Silver regulator dial. Wound through the signed white enamel dial, Arabic numerals, gilt Breguet hands. Rare three colour gold consular case, applied engraved gold decoration to the back depicting two figure in classical garden waving to a balloon in the sky. Bezels with applied gold foliate decoration.
In late 1783 the first free flight carrying a human took place in Paris. The hot air balloon made of paper and silk made by the Montgolfier brothers travelled over 5 miles reaching an altitude of at least 500 feet. This watch was made very shortly afterwards, perhaps commemorating the achievement. Daniel Vauchez, Paris, master 1767 - 1786, granted a premium in 1778 for a file cutting machine.
