14,950 CHF
Beauty Taming the Beast. James Watts, London, No. 552, made for the Chinese market, circa 1775. Fine gilt brass and glass, painted on enamel, ruby paste-set scent bottle fitted with a watch and a compartment. Concave faceted glass, gilt brass beaded edges, ruby paste-set bezel, back with hinged enamel medallion depicting a lady sitting on a stone bench and resting her arm on a small stone pedestal, a lion at her feet, molded gilt base with beaded edges, gilt brass stopper with beaded edges and spherical finial. White enamel, radial Arabic numerals, outer minute dot divisions. Diamond-set hands. 32 mm, hinged, frosted gilt full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, steel balance with flat balance spring, single-footed cock.Signed on the movement.Dim. height 165 mm. Notes Fine and decorative scent bottles such as the present lot are very rare; a handful of makers produced them, among them the famous James Cox. Others are known, such as William Garrett (see the Lord Sandberg Collection, Antiquorum March 31, 2001, lot 22), and James Watt, who seems to have worked in the manner of Cox.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-11-16
