35 Collection Dr. Peter Hunziker
The collection that the Basel Historical Museum was pleased to receive in 2011 includes eleven classic capucines (with alarm clocks), four capucine-shaped alarm clocks, and one small capucine-shaped pendulum (without alarm clock). The Capucine is a travel alarm clock that was made in France and western Switzerland from about 1750 to 1840. Characteristic elements of a Capucine are the four case plates, a white enamel dial, four pinnacles at the corners, four turned feet, a carrying handle and one or more bells. The shape of the Capucines is determined by this simplicity of the high rectangular case body, the bell and the carrying handle. The handle makes the capucines comfortable to carry. The classic capucine also has an alarm clock. The alarm clock is set by an additional (third) hand. It is unclear whether the name has something to do with the order of the Capuchins. Perhaps the name comes from the fact that the body of the bell can remind you of the tonsure of a Capuchin

Top row from left to right:

Capucine with bell and supporting bracket, without striking mechanism
End of 18th c.
Brass, glass, enamel, steel, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.565.


Capucine with bell and carrying bow, without chiming mechanism
around 1830
Brass, steel, enamel, glass, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.566.


Capucine with bell and bracket, without striking mechanism
2. Half of 18th century
Brass, steel, enamel
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.567.

Pendulum with striking mechanism in capucine form
around 1750
Brass, steel, bell bronze, enamel
Gift of Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.568.

Capucine with bell and carrying handle
probably french. Jura, 2nd half 18th c.
Brass, gilded, enamel, steel, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.563.



Capucine with bell and carrying handle, without striking mechanism
Maker: Jean Claude Daclin (probably only dial), signed
2. Half of 18th century
Brass, steel, enamel, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.564.

Middle row from left to right:
Capucine with bell and carrying bracket
Maker: Auguste Duval, signed
Neuchâtel, 1793
Brass, gilded, enamel, steel, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.561.

Capucine with bell and carrying handle
around 1800
Brass, gilded, enamel, steel, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.562.

Capucine with three bells and octagonal supporting ring
Maker: Louis Robert, signed
La Chaux-de-Fonds, 2nd quarter 19th c.
Brass, gilded, enamel, steel, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.557.

Capucine with bell and carrying handle
around 1800
Brass, gilded, enamel, steel, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.558.

Capucine with bell and carrying handle
around 1830
Brass, gilded, enamel, steel, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.559.

Bottom row from left to right:

Capucine with bell and carrying handle
Maker: Théodore Ami, signed
around 1825
Brass, gilded, enamel, steel, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.553.


Capucine with two bells and carrying handle
Maker: Jean Vincenti, signed
around 1830
Brass, gilded, enamel, steel, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.555.

Capucine with bell and carrying handle
Maker: C. L. Cattini, signed
probably Franche-Comté, around 1734
Brass, gilded, enamel, steel, bell bronze
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.554.

Capucine with bell in case base and carrying bracket
1794
Brass, gilded, enamel, bell bronze, steel
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.560.

Capucine with bell in case base and carrying bracket
Neuchâtel, around 1795
Brass, gilded, enamel, bell bronze, steel
Gift Peter Hunziker, Lucerne
Inv. 2011.556.