14,950 CHF
Patek, Philippe & Co, Genève, No. 27461, circa 1870.Amusing and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel pendant form watch in the shape of a book, with a folding frame for four photographs. Five-body, hinged, spring-loaded front cover with a painted enamel medallion with a lady reading from a tablet, a laurel leaf crown beside her, the back cover in azure enamel with gold damascened motif, gold, hinged cuvette, inside the back cover a hinged frame for photographs, engraved clasp. 18.7 x 24 mm, rectangular, gilt brass bar calibre, 10 jewels, cylinder escapement, plain gilt three-arm balance, flt balance spring.Signed on the cuvette.Dim. 27 x 23 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 482-483. Notes Patek, Philippe Lot CoThe company known today as Patek Philippe was founded in Geneva in 1839 by an exiled Polish nobleman, Count Antoine Norbert de Patek and his compatriot Francois Czapek. The earliest watches were signed Patek, Czapek Lot Co. until 1845 when Czapek left the partnership. Several years later the company was joined by French watchmaker, Jean Adrien Philippe, who later became the inventor of their famous stem-winding and hand-setting mechanism,a modern and reliable concept.From May 1845 to January 1851 the firm was known as Patek Lot Co.; Philippe lent his name to the company in 1851 when he became a full partner. Among the reasons for their initial success was the high standard of watchmaking and practicality of Philippe's new stem-winding system. In the early years of
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2001-03-31
