Recordon & Dupont

Recordon & Dupont, London, attributed to Jaquet- Droz workshop, made for the Imperial Chinese Court, circa 1785. Magnificent 18K gold and enamel musical snuff-box with a centre-seconds watch. Three body, fully enamelled with powder blue and paillonne formal decoration in a striped pattern, the borders with paillonne floral garlands over a blue ground, the twelve sided band including four panels of blue enamel within white frames decorated with paillonne altars and doves symbolising Love and Fidelity, the bottom panel centred with a painted pastoral scene depicting a young musician, assisted by Cupid, charming a maiden and opening to reveal a shallow snuff compartment enamelled with a bouquet of Summer flowers on a brown ground within grey and paillonne decorated border. The gold panel with French style prestige marks and engraved: Taken from the Summer Palace, Peking, 8 October 1860. N.S. The watch inset on the lid with a paillonne decorated bezel. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer minutes and seconds ring. Gold pierced hands. gilt brass with hinged cuvette, drawn from the Lepine calibre with free standing barrels engraved with scrolled foliage. Cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring with regulator. Carillon gilt brass, shaped, skeletonised, fusee with chain, pin-drum with five hammers playing on five bells. Dim. 85 x 61 x 38 mm. Notes Originating from an old family of Sainte-Croix watchmakers, later w Read more…