Importantes Montres de Collection

Geneva, Nov 13, 2011

LOT 507

GOLD & ENAMEL MUSICAL SNUFF BOX TAKEN FROM THE SUMMER PALACE PEKING Attributed to Jaquet-Droz, retailed by Recordon & Dupont, London. Made for the Imperial Chinese Court, circa 1785. Magnificent and extremely fine, 18K gold and painted on enamel musical snuff-box with a centre-seconds watch.

CHF 80,000 - 120,000

USD 90,000 - 130,000 / EUR 65,000 - 100,000

Sold: CHF 122,500

C. Three body, fully enamelled with powder blue and paillon formal decoration in a striped pattern, the borders with paillon fl oral garlands over a blue ground, the twelve sided band including four panels of blue enamel within white frames decorated with paillon altars and doves symbolising Love and Fidelity, the bottom panel centred with a painted pastoral scene depicting a young musician, assisted by Cupid, charming a maiden and opening to reveal a shallow snuff compartment enamelled with a bouquet of Summer fl owers on a brown ground within grey and paillonne decorated border. The gold panel with French style prestige marks and engraved: ?Taken from the Summer Palace, Pekin, 8th October 1860. N.S.? The watch inset on the lid with a paillonne decorated bezel. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals and outer minutes and seconds divisions. Gold pierced hands. M. Gilt brass, drawn from the Lepine calibre with free standing barrels engraved with scrolled foliage, cylinder escapement, plain gold three-arm balance, fl at balance spring with index regulator. Musical movement: gilt brass, shaped and skeletonised, fusee with chain, pin-drum with fi ve hammers playing on fi ve stacked bells. Dim. 84 x 60 x 32 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-75

Good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Slightly restored soft enamel
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-24-01

Good

Slightly chipped

HANDS Original

Notes

Originating from an old family of Sainte-Croix watchmakers, later working in Geneva, Louis Recordon established his company in London as of 1778 where he succeeded Emery in Cockspur Street. In partnership with Charles Dupont, also from Geneva, they settled in Tottenham Court Road and specialised in watches and clocks for the Chinese Market. In 1782 he began to trade with Jaquet-Droz and Henry Maillardet who was in charge of his workshop in London. Although the cuvette is signed Recordon & Dupont, the layout of the movement and the carillon allow the attribution of this box to the workshop of Jaquet-Droz, the leading specialist in such pieces at the time. The lack of pearls on the case, the early style of enamelling making dramatic use of paillons, and the unusual shape, all point to an early date. This is further supported by the prestige French marks frequently found on Swiss boxes from the last quarter of the 18th century. The inscription inside the box refers to the sacking of the Emperor's Summer Palace on 8th October 1860, during the second China War. Despite the conclusion of the treaty of Tientsin, with the ascent of the Emperor in 1859, the delegation proceeding to Peking to ratify the agreement, was fi red upon from the Taku Forts at the mouth of the Peiho River. Hostilities were renewed and the convention was fi nally concluded following the defeat of the Tartar troops and the sacking of the Palace. This box, along with other "portable" treasures, was evidently taken at the time, although the identity of the acquirer "N.S." is not known