Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 31

?The Presentation in the Temple? John Curtis, London, No. 5918. Made for the Dutch market, London hallmarks for 1786. Fine, 22K gold repoussé pair-cased pocket watch with outer gilt brass and shagreen protective case.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

EUR 4,500 - 6,000 / USD 5,700 - 7,300

Sold: CHF 6,210

C. Outer: two-body, gilt brass rims and bezels, overlaid with shagreen and applied pinwork decoration, glazed back. Second: two-body, repousse, finely chased with a scene of the Presentation in the Temple within a rococo scrollwork border, bezel decorated to match. Inner: two-body, polished. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer arcaded minute track and Arabic five minute numerals. Blued steel beetle and poker hands. M. 33 mm., gilt brass with cylindrical ringed pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, three-arm steel balance, flat balance spring, continental style pierced and chased balance cock, silvered regulation dial. Dial and movement signed, movement and inner case numbered. Diam. 55 mm including outer case.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The scene depicted on the repoussé case of the present watch derives from a painting by Charles Lebrun. The painting was adapted for a design by the great gold chaser Augustin Heckel and was used on some watch cases by him. Subsequent versions of the scene on watch cases are clearly dependent on this design and the present watch shows his influence over forty years after his retirement. Another watch with the same case design and signed Curtis, London, No. 5921 and also dating from 1786-7 is illustrated in: Richard Edgecumbe, The Art of the Gold Chaser in 18th Century London, Oxford University Press, 2000, fig. 48e.