299,000 HKD
Lepine a Paris, (Swiss), No. 1569, circa 1785. Unique 18K gold, enamel and ivory watch with passing automata and matching chatelaine. Double body, Louis XVI with glazed back, the bezels chased with formal decoration, the back of blue enamel applied with a miniature ivory lakeside landscape with a ruin on the left side, chased in high relief, a shepherd with lambs on the foreground, a vessel, a rider and dogs running after a red-deer, on the back. Chatelaine with large plaque decorated with ivory figures at the Altar of Love, six chains suspending two gold, enamel and pearl tassels and matching ivory decorated key. Blue enamel, decorated with a small ivory carved hunting scene within a split-pearl frame, passing automaton hunting scene visible through a small circular aperture. The small eccentric white enamel chapter with Breguet numerals. Gold Breguet hands. Hinged gilt brass full plate with conical pillars, going barrel, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock with polished steel end-piece. Signed on the dial and back plate. In very good condition. Diam. 50 mm. Notes The finesse and detail of the ivory carving on this watch defies explanation. Even with modern tools, let alone the rudimentary handmade saws available in the 18th century, it seems impossible to carve with such delicacy and to assemble the components without them falling apart to the touch. Less detailed watches with carved ivory decoration are kn Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1997-06-09
