708,000 HKD
"Gathering in the Fishing Nets" Ilbery, London, No. 5985, the enamel attributed to Jean-Louis Richter, Geneva. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1820. Very fine and very rare, 18K gold, painted on enamel and pearl-set pocket watch with duplex escapement. Property of a European Collector Two-body, "Empire", the hinged back decorated with a finely painted view in the manner of Claude Vernet of fishermen in a calm harbor landscape with mountains in the distance. Hinged and sprung gold cuvette attached to the movement ring. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Pierced gold "tulip" hands. 48 mm., frosted gilt, foliate engraved, standing barrel, duplex escapement, flat-rim five-arm polished steel balance, diamond endstone, index regulator. Movement signed. Diam. 60 mm. Notes Jean-Louis Richter (1766-1841) Learned his art under David-Etienne-Roux and Philippe-Samuel-Théodore Roux, becoming a most renowned enamel painter. His speciality was the painting of landscapes and particularly lake-side scenes and marine-scapes, often representing ships in a harbour or battles with fighting Men-of-War, but, on occasion, also portraits and hunting scenes. He did not often sign his work, but it is clearly recognised as being in his hand from the style and quality of the painting. He applied his art principally to watch cases and snuff boxes and these were largely destined for the Chinese, Turkish, British and Italian markets. In 1828 he was
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-11-25
