Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

New York, Omni Berkshire Place Hotel, Jun 20, 1998

LOT 484

Dimier, Fleurier, made for the Chinese Market, circa 1860. "The Poet" Fine and unusual 18K gold and enamel, pearl set, eight day going, dead centre seconds watch.

USD 17,000 - 22,000

C. Three body, Empire with split-pearl set bezels, the band, pendant and bow with blue and azure, formal champleve enamelled decoration, the back enamel panel painted with a scene depicting a poet or playwright whose work is torn between Music and Drama. Hinged glazed gilt brass cuvette. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer minute and seconds ring. Blued-steel spoon pattern hands. M. Gilt brass, eight clay going fully engraved Tixier calibre with twin free standing barrels barrels, Jacot dead beat duplex escapement, three-arm with wedge shaped and partly blued-steel weights, flat balance spring and regulator. Chinese signature on the movement. Diam. 56 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good
Case: 27

Custom-made
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 23-51

Later

Partially reprinted

Notes

The Chinese signature of Dimier is illustrated by A. Chapuis in La Montre Chinoi.se, p. 146, fig 102, and the eight clay going Tixier calibre, p. 169, fig 131. According to A. Chapuis in La Montre Chinoise, watches made by Dimier were usualy commercialised in China by Bova. The scene painted on the back enamel panel represents a poet or playwright whose work is torn between Music and Drama. The poet could well be Torquato Tasso (Sorrento 1544-Rome 1595) noted for his pastoral idyll Aminta (1581) and for Jerusalem Delivered (1581) and whose work was a strong inspiration for poets, playwrights and librettists of the 17th and 18th centuries. Tasso's influence is seen in many opera librettos of that period. The scene represented on this watch was described with the kind assistance of Dr Hans Boeckh.