A. LANGE & SÖHNE, GLASHÜTTE | AN EXTREMELY FINE AND RARE PINK GOLD HUNTING CASED PERPETUAL CALENDAR MINUTE REPEATING GRANDE AND PETITE SONNERIE KEYLESS LEVER CLOCK WATCH WITH MOON PHASES, DOUBLE CHRONOGRAPH AND REGISTER CIRCA 1901, NO. 41277 GRANDE COMPLICATION

• Movement: 1a quality, damascened German silver ¾ plate, two-train, gold lever and escape wheel, bi-metallic compensation balance, swan-neck regulation, polished steel bridge work for the chronograph visible to the backplate, signed A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte/Dresden   • Dial: white enamel, Arabic numerals, four subsidiary dials for day, month combined with leap year indication and 30-minute register, date and seconds combined with aperture for moon phases, outer tracks for minutes and chronograph seconds with red Arabic 5-minute markers, gold filigree hour and minute hands, contrasting blued steel and gold split seconds hands with stylised fleur-de-lys terminals, signed A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte B/ Dresden• Case: large 18ct pink gold Louis XV style case with engine-turned covers, the front with monogram HF, the back engraved with armorials, two pushers for chronograph start/stop and split, short slide to band for trip repetition, adjusters below bezel for advancing day and date in tandem or days independently, month and moon phases, slides for strike/silent and grande/petite sonnerie, glazed movement cover, polished gold cuvette, back cover and cuvette numbered 41277, case front numbered 77, covers and cuvette signed A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte

Martin Huber, Die Uhren von A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, Sachsen, 1988, p. 182, table 75
Martin Huber, Die Lange Liste, 2000, p. 227, table 82
Reinhard Meis, A. Lange & Söhne the Watchmakers of Dresden, vol II, 2012, p. 297

Movement running, repeating and striking, the chronograph also operational but slightly sluggish, would probably benefit from a service. Dial: appears to be in good condition. Glass slightly loose. Case: in good overall condition with light marks and scuffs, engine turned decoration, monogram and armorials remain clear.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

Accompanied by a certificate of origin from the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum, Glashütte confirming the date of sale on 31st January 1901 to Comp. Julius Schirpf, Augsburg for 3,900.-M.  Reinhard Meis notes (in A. Lange & Söhne the Watchmakers of Dresden) that the present lot is the earliest made perpetual calendar minute repeating grande and petite sonnerie clock watch with split seconds chronograph.

Lange’s "Grande Complication" is one of nine watches made by the firm between 1901 and 1928. These watches were amongst the most complicated pocket watches created by the firm at the time.  For similar examples, see Meis, Watchmakers of Dresden Vol II, 2012, pp.297-301, figs. 966-976.  Of this series, only four have ever been offered at auction; the last of which occurred in 2007.