80,500 HKD
The Lion Attack Richardson, London, No. 404, made in Fleurier for the Chinese market, circa 1860. Very fine gilt silver and painted on enamel, pearl-set center seconds watch. Four-body, “Empire”, back finely painted on enamel with a scene depicting a lion attacking a Bedouin rider on a white horse, florally painted frame, pearl-set bezels, bow, and pendant, solid hinged cuvette. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute/seconds divisions with fifteen-minute/seconds Arabic markers. Gold “Spoon” hands. 47 mm (21’’’), gilt brass fully engraved “Chinese” caliber, free-standing barrel, ruby duplex escapement with ruby rest insert and steel impulse pallet, plain steel five-arm balance, flat balance spring.Signed on the movement.Diam. 56 mm. Notes The Chinese appreciated watches with scenes depicting life in what they considered exotic parts of the world such as Europe, and Arabia, as is shown by the present watch. A virtually identical watch, with exactly the same scene signed “Juvet” is illustrated in “La Montre Chinoise” by Alfred Chapuis and Gustave Loup, on the plate opposite p. 152.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-06-06
