Paris abducting HelenAttributed to Jaquet-Droz

Paris abducting HelenAttributed to Jaquet-Droz, enamel painting attributed to the workshop of J-L. Richter.Extremely fine and very rare 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl-set, double train, three-tune musical watch with centre seconds and stop feature, made for the Oriental market. Three-body, both covers spring-loaded. The back very finely painted on translucent dark blue enamel with the Abduction of Helen by Paris, taken from an engraving after a painting by Guido Reni (1575-1642), on the right a flower vase with flowers, leaves, sheaves of wheat, and garlands in gold paillons. The painting surrounded by florally decorated enamel and paillon frame, bezels set with half pearls, case band pierced and engraved. White enamel, Roman chapters, outer minute ring and quarter second divisions for the centre seconds hand. Gold Breguet hands with pierced tips. Notes A watch whose movement has similar characteristics is published in 'La Montre Chinoise', Alfred Chapuis, plate after page 60.After the famous contest of beauty between three goddesses, Paris, the judge, and son of the King of Troy, was promised the most beautiful woman in the world by the victorious goddess Aphrodite (Venus). This happened to be Helen, the wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta. When Menelaus left for Crete for his grandfather's funeral, Paris seduced Helen and took her to Troy. For his sake Helen abandoned her daughter by Menelaus. The often-seen phrases the 'abduction of Helen' or even the 'rape of Hele Read more…