109,250 HKD
“Romantic Ladies” Léo Juvet, Shanghai, No. 330081 & No. 330083. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1875. Very fine, mirror-image pair of silver gilt, painted on enamel and pearl-set pocket watches with center seconds, and original morocco fitted case and keys. Two-body, “Consular”, back cover decorated with a finely painted portraitof a young lady in a powdered wig with a garland of rosesand a lace edged dress, the portrait is surrounded by dark blue translucentenamel over engine-turning, the bezels set with half pearls,spring-loaded, gilded and glazed cuvette. 47 mm (21’’), gilded and entirelyfoliate engraved, “Chinese” calibre, 16 jewels, free-standingbarrel, counterpoised lateral lever escapement, bimetallic compensationbalance, white metal flat balance spring, blued-steel flat balancespring, index regulator.Movements signed Juvet in Chinese characters. The cases with English-styleprestige marks.Diam. 55 mm. Notes Although most of the watches and snuffboxes with automata destined for the Chinese market were made in pairs, the majority of them were separated. It is very rare to find a pair still together. Juvet One of the important Swiss horological families working for the Chinese market. 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
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-07-10
