76,700 HKD
“Beautiful Ladies” Léo Juvet, Shanghai, No. 304146 & attributed to Léo Juvet, Shanghai. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1875. Very fine, matched pair of silver painted on enamel and pearl-set pocket watches with center seconds. Accompanied by a box and keys. wo-body, “Consular”, back cover decorated with a finely painted portrait of a young lady in a powdered wig with a garland of roses and a pale blue dress, the portrait surrounded by dark blue translucent enamel over wavy-line engine-turning, the second watch decorated with a lady with long flowing hair with violets and a white-edged yellow dress, the bezels set with split-pearls. Spring-loaded, gilded and glazed cuvette. 47 mm (21’’), gilded and entirely foliate engraved, “Chinese” caliber, 16 jewels, free-standing barrel, counterpoised lateral lever escapement, bimetallic compensation balance, monometallic balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. The first movement signed Juvet in Chinese characters. The second watch case with faux English hallmarks. Diam. 55 & 56 mm. Notes For a discussion of watches made for the Chinese market, see pages 196 - 201. Edouard Juvet (1820-1883) First established his workshop in Buttes in 1842, but in 1844 moved to Fleurier. He began making "Chinese" watches in 1856. Edouard’s sons Ami-Louis and Léo traveled to China to work in the family firm. When Ami-Louis died there, Léo (1848-1891) took his place. In Shanghai, the Juvets were rivaled only by the Bovets, yet
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-11-25
