52,900 CHF
Ilbery, London, 6047, the enamel attributable to Jean- Louis Richter, circa 1800 "Orphee et Eurydice" Very fine 18K gold and enamel centre-seconds watch with special escapement, made for the Chinese Market. Two-body, the bezels decorated with formal motifs in blue, white and red enamel, the back panel with a fine polychrome enamel scene depicting "Orpheus and Eurydice ", in the manner of Richter. Engraved gold cuvette. White enamel, Roman hour numerals, minute and seconds divisions. Gold dished oval point hands. Entirely engraved, gilt Chinese calibre with free-standing barrel, duplex escapement, steel and brass three-arm balance with blued-steel weights, fiat balance spring with regulator. Signed on the movement. Diam. 59mm. Notes Orpheus and Eurydice Orpheus, a legendary Thracian poet, famous for his skill with the lyre, married the wood nymph Euridyce. On trying to escape from Aristaeus, an unwelcome suitor, Eurydice trod on a snake and died from its bite. Frantic with grief, Orpheus obtained permission from Pluto (or Hades) to descend to his kingdom of the underworld and bring back Eurydice, on the condition, however, that he did not look at her before reaching the world of the living. Orpheus surmounted the obstacles on his way, calmed clown the fierce Cerberus with his lyre, overcame the Furies and rescued his wife from the dead. But as he arrived at the door of Hades, he turned round to make sure that Eurydice was following him and by so doing Eurydice disapp Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1997-11-16
