168,500 CHF
William Anthony, London, Nos. 1567 and 1568, made for the Chinese Market, circa 1795. Magnificent and rare 18K gold and enamel, pearl and diamond-set pair of centre seconds watches with special escapement. Double body, with split-pearl set bezels and pendants, the backs of blue translucent enamel over engine-turning, with split pearl-set border, the very fine applied diamond and pearl set decoration, each centred with a large rose-cut diamond. Hinged gilt brass cuvettes. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer minute and seconds ring. Gold arrow hands. Gilt brass, fully chased with scrolling foliage decoration, Chinese calibre drawn from that of Lepine with free standing barrel, duplex escapement, plain flat five-arm polished steel balance with flat balance spring and diamond end-stone. Each signed on the cuvette. In very good condition. Diam. 66 mm. Notes Chinese Market watches were first produced in England and, from the third quarter of the 18th century, they started being made in Switzerland. However, Swiss makers, such as Jagnet-Droz, who did not have the facilities for selling watches directly on the Chinese Market, had to go through agents which more often than not, were established in England. Later the Swiss did set themselves up in such a way that they were finally able to by-pass the agents and sell directly to China. Certainly the Swiss were good salesmen and they explained to the Chinese that since China was so far away from Switzerland, it would be best Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1997-04-12
