Cleopatra Cheneviere

Cleopatra Cheneviere, London (Genève), enamel attributed to Jean V Mussard, circa 1730. Very fine 20K gold and copper painted on enamel pendant watch. Two-body, "bassine" with deep back, painted on enamel depicting Cleopatra and the asp, continuous landscape on the band, gold bezel. Signed Brodon fils, white enamel, radial Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions with five-minute Arabic markers. 33 mm, frosted gilt full-plate with elaborate baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, steel balance with flat balance spring, single-footed cock.Signed on the movement. Diam. 40 mm Notes The death of Cleopatra Cleopatra, (69-30 B. C.), was Queen of Egypt (51-30 B. C.). She was famous for her beauty and was the mistress first of Julius Caesar and later of Mark Antony. The latter suggested to her that a division of the Orient would make her "Queen of queens". At the battle of Actium, however, Antony and Cleopatra’s forces were defeated by the fleet of Octavian (Augustus) who considered this union a threat to Rome. In turn he invaded Egypt. Antony’s troops were again defeated and he took his own life. Cleopatra, rather than accept defeat, also committed suicide by letting herself be bitten by an asp.