Important Watches and Wristwatches

Hong Kong, Hotel Furama, May 28, 1989

LOT 74

John Kentish Jun., London, circa 1780. Ch'ien Lung.

Fine and very rare 20-carat gold and enamel cased centre second watch with an erotic automaton scene. Double body case engraved and decorated overall with a blue translucent 'champlevé' enamelled floral decoration, very fine urn on the back, painted 'en grisaille' over a pink background medallion, further green 'champlevé' decoration and a shutter for the winding hole (restorations). White enamel eccentric dial with Roman numerals and outer minute ring. Outer ring for the seconds and a semi-circular automaton aperture. Blued steel ' poker' hands. The chiselled three coloured gold erotic automaton scene over a gilt engraved plate (very well restored), driven by a repeating train, is disclosed by a double engraved gold shutter with a blue translucent ' champlevé' enamelled decoration. Fine gilt brass full plate movement with baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain brass three armed balance with an English cock, the back plate partly covered by a fine pierced and engraved applied decoration. In good condition. Diam. 56 mm.