8,625 CHF
Etienne Lenoir a Paris, No. 2361, with Paris hallmarks for 1750. Fine 20K gold and enamel dumb quarter-repeating watch, with matching chatelaine. Double body, Louis XV, decorated on the bezel and back with raised Summer flowers and green foliage enamelled "en pate " in the manner of Louis- Francois Aubert, over engine-turning in a basket work pattern. Large rose diamond thumb pieces. Gilt brass full plate with turned pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement with plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, silver regulator scale. Pierced gilt brass Continental cock with polished steel end-piece. Dumb quarter repeating with two hammers on blocks, the "a Inc" piece in the edge of the engraved dial plate activated by depressing the pendant. Signed on the dial and movement. In very good condition. Diam. 46 mm. Notes The case of this watch is decorated with enamelled Jleu s d. relief, a. decoration much in favour on snuff boxes between 1748 and 1755. These dates coincide with the working lifetime of Louis-Francois Aubert (1721-1755) to whom this work is generally attributed. Similar watch cases are known and it is interesting to point out that among the items found unfinished in his workshop after his death, there were several snuff boxes and a watch case. See Anna Somers Cocks and Charles Truman, Renaissance Jewels, Gold Boxes and Objects of Therm, - The Thyself Bornemisza Collection.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1997-04-12
