39,100 HKD
Japanese with Swiss movement, circa 1810. Very rare ivory netsuke carved as a human skull and fitted with concealed watch. Two-body, hinged, very realistically carved in ivory, the top with a large serpent, the symbol of eternity, bronze pendant, loose ring. White enamel, Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions. Blued steel “Breguet” hands. 22 mm, frosted gilt full-plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement brass balance with flat balance spring, continental cock.Dim. 47 (with pendant) x 32 x 42 mm. Notes Netsuke are decorative fobs, used in traditional Japanese dress. Skull forms were popular as netsuke. In “The Ivory Skull” Hanano Inagaki Sugimoto, tells how the hero discovered “... carefully wrapped in cloth, a little ivory skull, exquisitely carved. ‘Just the thing for my watch-chain!’ he exclaimed…and fastened the little skull on his chain.”
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-06-06
