91,500 CHF
Evening. John Kenebel, Frith Street, Soho, London, No. 1455, enamel painting possibly by Lissignol, circa 1800.Magnificent and rare, large, oval-shaped, 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl-set, centre-seconds watch, made for the Oriental market. Notes John Kenebelis not recorded, but may well have been a trader who had connections in the Orient. The movement has features similar to watches signed Jaquet-Droz and was made, with the case and dial, in Switzerland.William Hamilton painted a sequence of paintings, depicting the four parts of the day.This watch is superbly executed and decorated. It is among the best examples made for the Oriental market. Due to the artistic value of the object, a later owner, during the second half of the 19th century, must have decided to improve the timekeeping of the watch by changing the original lever escapement to a more advanced type, so well executed as to leave no visible signs of the conversion.Lissignol, Jean Abrahamenameller, born in Geneva on May 1749, died in Plainpalais on June 28, 1819. Very fine enameller, he was the pupil of Jean-Marc Roux and became his partner. Specialised in snuff-boxes and watch cases, he worked for Jaquet Droz and Leschot, the Rochat Brothers and John Rich.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2001-03-31
