34,500 CHF
Bovet, Fleurier,No. 207, made forthe Chinese market, circa 1835.Very fine 18K gold and painted on enamel center seconds watch. Three-body, back finely painted on enamel with a young lady in classical dress with a lyre and a young man with long walking stick, classical building, mountains in the background, champlevé bezels, bow and pendant, gilt metal cuvette hinged to the movement ring. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute/seconds track with fifteen-minute/seconds Arabic markers. Gold "lozenge" hands. Notes BovetA watchmaking dynasty, begun by Edouard Bovet and his siblings Frédéric, Alphonse, Gustave, Charles-Henri, and Caroline, of Fleurier. After having opened a business in London in 1814, the Bovets founded a partnership in Canton for the China watch trade, while keeping ties with their home base of Fleurier which played a role in production. In 1855, Bovet Frères et Cie won a gold medal at the Paris International Exhibition in the luxury watches category, and the following year, Charles Bovet, Alphnse's youngest son, took on the management of the business. In 1864, the Bovets sold their firm to their manufacturing inspectors in Fleurier, Jules Jéquier and Ernest Bobillier, soon joined by Ami Leuba. The articles of association maintain the Bovet group: Maison Bovet and Bovet Bros. in London, F. and A. Bovet in Canton, and Bovet Frères et Cie in Fleurier. In 1901, the Bovet trademark is acquired at auction by César and Charles Leuba, sons of Ami Leub
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2002-11-16
