50,600 CHF
And the Flocks Will not Fear the Great Lions Cartier, Paris, No. 1509, case decoration by I. Roukhomovsky, circa 1903. Highly important and exceptionally rare keyless dress watch. Three-piece, “bassine”, the back decorated with a scene in relief depicting utopian peace, a sheep playing with a lion, a child playing with a snake, a mother nursing, all weapons broken and discarded while a wise man looks on from above against a sunset in the background. The top inscribed with a motto from Virgil’s Fourth Eclogue “Nec magnos metuent armenta leones” (And the Flocks Will not Fear the Great Lions), front bezel chased with stars, matted background, laurel leaf wreath pendant. Silver, matte, Roman numerals, each on engine-turned lobe, subsidiary sunk seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. 39 mm., rhodium-plated, 18 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with flat balance spring.Signed on the case, the scene signed by the artist.Diam. 48 mm. Notes In the 1890s an exceptionally rare and beautiful object appeared in Paris. It was a gold tiara, ostensibly having belonged to the Scythian King Saitapharnes 3rd-2nd century BC. Legend has it that Saitapharnes, who was besieging the Greek colony of Olbia was offered tribute and gifts in exchange for leaving the city in peace. The tiara was said to be one of those gifts. Made in solid gold and weighing, incredibly, one pound, it was a masterpiece of the goldsmith's craft. Its appearance on the Paris art m
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-11-14
