J.B. Vrythoff

J. B. Vrythoff, Hague, No. 152, case enamelled by Les deux fret-es Huaut les jeunes, circa 1686. Very fine 20K gold pair-cased watch. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minutes ring. Gold Louis XIV hands. Later custom made hinged gilt-brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain brass balance with mock pendulum, flat balance spring. Gilt-brass Dutch cock with pendulum aperture, chased with a seated Bacchus drinking a glass of wine. Diam. 49 mm. Notes For more information on the engraving by Gabriel Perelle (1603-1677) sec Hans Boeckh, Emailmalcm Au/ Golfer Taschemthreu etc., Freiburg 1982. Cases painted by Les deux Leres 1-tuctud were among the finest examples of painting on enamel from the Geneva school and were therefore not only highly prized when originally made, but remained as art treasures in the centuries that followed, as evidenced by this watch case, which was deemed of sufficient quality to merit a custom made movement by J.B. Vrythoff, Hague, at the beginning of the 18th century. /Apparently several examples of cases enamelled by members of the Huard family were still available at the period, for many watch with later movements by other Dutch makers, such as Van Ceulen, specially made to be housed in Huard cases, are known to exist.