8,625 CHF
Vertumnus and Pomona (Louis-Michel) Hardel a Paris, No. 1974, circa 1760. 18K gold diamond, ruby, and emerald-set watch, painted on enamel in the style of the Genevese school. Two-body, Louis XV, the back with an applied, finely painted on enamel plaque depicting Vertumnus and Pomona from an engraving by Cornelis Vermeulen (1644-1708/9) after Antoine Coypel (1661-1722), bezels with graduated diamond-set swags alternating with rubies and emeralds, ruby-set pendant. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions with five-minute Arabic markers, winding aperture at 4 o’clock. Diamond-set Louis XV hands. 36 mm, hinged, frosted gilt full-plate with pentagonal baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, steel balance with flat balance spring, continental cock.Signed on the movement.Diam. 44 mm. Notes Vertumnus and Pomona Pomona, a wood nymph, did not care for forests and rivers, but loved gardens, the countryside, and trees that bear delicious apples. The Fauns and Satyrs would have given all they possessed to win her, but Vertumnus loved her most of all. One day he came in the guise of an old woman with gray hair and a staff in her hand. The old woman entered the garden and admired the fruit. Then she told a story of a cold woman who scorned a man’s love and was punished by the gods. This passionate speech, which in fact praised Vertumnus’ love for her, finally won Pomona’s heart. At the end Vertumnus dropped his disguise, and appeared before Pomona as
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-04-24
