L'Alouette Art Nouveau Silver Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1890
This L'Alouette pocket watch, produced circa 1890, is a silver, keyless timepiece. The watch features a four-body case with decorative elements, including a continuous leaf design on the bezel and band.
The back cover is decorated in relief with an image of a Japanese lady positioned before a large fan and foliage, mirroring the border design of the bezel. The dial is white enamel with radial Roman numerals, gold dots, outer minute divisions, and Arabic five-minute numerals, accompanied by a subsidiary seconds register and fancy gilt hands. Internally, the watch is powered by a 17 ½ ligne, matte-gilt movement, which features a cylinder escapement, a plain three-arm balance, a blued steel flat balance spring, and an index regulator.
The movement is signed L’Alouette. The watch measures 51 mm in diameter.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1890
- Type
- Keyless pocket watch
- Maker
- L'Alouette
- Country
- Swiss
- Diameter
- 51 mm
- Material
- Silver
- Dial details
- White enamel with Roman numerals
- Movement Type
- Cylinder escapement
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Maker / attribution
- L'Alouette
Design
- Dial and Hands
- The dial is constructed from white enamel, providing a high-contrast background for the time display. The dial features radial Roman numerals for the hours, punctuated by gold dots. Peripheral markings include outer minute divisions and Arabic numerals for five-minute intervals. A subsidiary seconds dial is positioned on the main dial face. The time is indicated by a pair of fancy gilt hands, which complement the decorative nature of the exterior case work.
- Visible features
- • Relief decoration on the case back depicting a lady holding a fan • Decorative foliage motifs on the case bezel and bow • White enamel dial with Roman numeral hour markers • Gilt hands featuring intricate decorative cutouts
- Movement and Condition
- The movement is a 17 ½ ligne, matte-gilt calibre. It is constructed with a cylinder escapement, a common mechanism for watches of this period, and a plain three-arm balance. Regulation is managed via an index regulator, paired with a blued steel flat balance spring. The movement is signed L’Alouette. Regarding the reported condition, the auction house grades the case and movement as '3 Good' and the dial as '2-01 Very good'.
- Case Design and Decoration
- The watch is housed in a four-body silver case characterized by its decorative relief work. The bezel and case band feature a continuous leaf design, which extends to the border of the case back. This back cover displays a prominent relief motif of a Japanese lady, shown in profile in front of a large fan, surrounded by foliage detail. The construction follows a keyless design with a bow and crown, integrating the decorative aesthetic with the functionality of the timekeeping instrument. The overall dimensions of the piece are recorded as 51 mm in diameter, consistent with standard pocket watch sizes of the era.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The auction description suggests an overhaul is recommended, but provides no further mechanical details
- Research required: The attribution to the maker L'Alouette relies solely on the movement signature as reported by the auction house