Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Hotel Noga Hilton, Oct 16, 2005

LOT 83

?Alexander destroying the Persian Cavalry? Fromanteel, No 941, circa 1695, painting on enamel by Vauquer P(inxit), circa 1660. Very fine and rare, 20K gold and enamel watch. To be sold without reserve.

CHF 10,000 - 20,000

EUR 6,500 - 13,000 / USD 8,000 - 16,000

Sold: CHF 17,825

C. Two-body, painted on both sides with battle scenes, the enamel plaque is by Robert Vauquer (1625-1670) who worked in Blois. The battle scene on the back is biblical, while that on the inside, painted en grisaille and signed, is of Alexander destroying the Persian Cavalry. The body of the gold case has two bands of foliate engraving and a swivel pendant. D. Gold, champlevé, Roman hour chapter ring with half-hour lozenges, outer minute ring with five-minute Arabic numerals. Blued-steel ?tulip? and ?poker? hands. M. 39 mm, gilt brass full plate, elaborate tulip pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, blued-steel flat balance spring, one-footed cock pierced and engraved in symmetrical scrolling foliage, flower blossom in the center, worm and wheel set-up, rack and pinion regulator with silver plate. Signed on the movement and the dial, the number engraved on the band in a special cartouche by the pendant. Enamel signed on the inside back. Diam. 46 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-56

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-6-01

Good

Slightly oxidized

HANDS Original

Notes

Provenance: Lord Sandberg Collection, published in the Sandberg book, pages 108-109. Dr. Hans Boeckh has established that the scenes derive from prints after engravings by Antonio Tempesta (1555-1630). The level of mastery which painting on enamel had reached in 17th century France had declined by the turn of the century. Yet owners treasured old cases whose movements had become obsolete after the introduction of the balance spring in 1675. As a result, many Blois watch cases were fitted with "modern" movements or converted into snuff boxes. Many backs and covers were preserved for their beauty alone. There is a record in Ferdinand Berthoud's registers of a client who requested that an old enamel watch be fitted with a newer movement. The fact that Berthoud obliged the man demonstrates to what extent people treasured their fathers' enameled cases. A beautiful example in the Sandberg Watch Collection (Antiquorum, March 31, 2001, Lot No. 8) was an early Blois enameled case fitted with a custom made movement by William Webster. Some watchmakers, like Johanes van Ceulen Le Jeune of Hague, made a business of replacing movements in older, painted enamel cases. The present lot was previously sold by Antiquorum Geneva in November 2004, lot 321.