34,500 CHF
“Minerva” A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, No. 34387, circa 1895. Very fine and rare, 18K gold and niello, hunting-cased, first quality watch with case designed by Prof. Carl Ludwig Theodor Graff. Four-body, “demi-bassine”, Renaissance style, entirely engraved, central cartouche depicting Minerva with a plumed helmet, diadem and a necklace, surrounded by courting birds, cornucopias, flower ribbons and small repeated ribbon pattern, gold bow and the upper part of the pendant engraved, gold hinged cuvette, back cover with box-hinge, under the cuvette a glazed bezel to view the movement while protecting it from dust, numbered as the movement. White enamel, Arabic numerals with outer Arabic red minutes, subsidiary sunk seconds, “spade” hands. Notes The following two lots feature allegorical case decoration created by Prof. Carl Ludwig Theodor Graff of the Dresden School of Applied Arts, who became director of the Dresden Art and Industry Museum in 1874. His design symbolizes the prosperity enjoyed by Germany under the rule of Kaiser Wilhelm II, German Emperor and King of Prussia from 1888 to the end of World War I in 1918. The Roman goddess Minerva, patroness of war, symbolizes strength. As the goddess of handicrafts, she is also a patron of the watchmaking art. The cornucopias are symbols of prosperity, and the courting birds symbolize freedom and fertility.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-11-14
