336,250 CHF
"Chinese Peony" Attributable to Jaquet Droz, Geneve, No. 5I, Made for the Chinese Imperial court, circa 1780. Magnificent and very rare gold, painted on enamel and pearl set pocket watch with quarter repeating and centre seconds. Four -body, flower form, hinged and sprung bezel chased with leaves and set with seed pearls against a back-groundof dark blue translucent champleve enamel on an engine turned ground, the band decorated with chasedbound laurel wreaths within a black champleve enamel ground, stalk-form pendant, the hinged and sprung backcover realistically and very finely painted on enamel with a Gallic rose. Hinged gilded metal cuvette. Whiteenamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute and seconds track, Arabic quarter hour markkers. Gold “spade”hands. 51 mm., à la Lepine, frosted gilt, standing barrel, inverted cylinder escapement, three-arm flat balance,blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator, repeating with two hammers on two bells activated by depressingthe pendant.Scratched signed under the lower bell "Henri Robert", each bell with several other scratched names appearing torelate to various former owners.Diam. 66 mm. Notes It is very rare to find a watch from this period and of this quality, in such exceptional condition. The Chinese Peony Flowers have great symbolic importance for the Chinese. By their form, aspect, and fragrance, they are considered to be highly spiritual, reflecting the profound nature of the Chinese people. Poems and prover
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-05-15
