20,700 CHF
"Rape of Proserpina" Probably German. Made circa 1790. Very fine and very rare carved ivory pocket watch with ivory and mother of pearl movement, chain and keys. Two-body, hinged sprung cover with a circular carved panel in high relief depicting Minerva, Aphrodite andDiana with Pluto and putti, the back with a similarly carved panel continuing the story and depicting Pluto carry-ingoff Proserpina in his chariot drawn by four horses, the inside of each cover with a finely painted on paperminiature coat of arms and a view of a fortified town, ivory stem and bow. Chain carved from a single piece ofivory terminating in two carved ivory keys. Small, mother of pearl, Arabic numerals, outer dot minute mark-ers,ivory dial plate carved with figures of night and day in relief flanking the dial. Ivory hands. Ivory, turnedpillars, fusee with steel chain, verge escapement, five-arm mother of pearl balance, blued steel flat balance-spring,continental pierced ivory balance cock, mother of pearl regulation dial.Diam. 54 mm. Notes This very interesting watch is almost entirely made of ivory and the panels which decorate the case are a tour de force of small-scale carving. It has been suggested that these panels are perhaps 17th century and their re-use provided the inspiration for the making of this watch. The paper miniatures inside the case are charming and also possibly pre-date the watch. The movement is, apart from the wheel pinions and a small number of other parts, made entirel Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-05-15
