157,500 CHF
The WatermelonPiguet & Meylan, Geneva, No. 3654, made for the Chinese market circa 1820.Magnificent and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl-set, centre-seconds, two-train, musical automaton watch with concealed dial, playing on the hour and on request, designed as a watermelon. Two-body, "fermée" type, the front half of the watermelon spring-loaded to reveal the dial, both halves entirely enameled and divided into five domed sectors, each with translucent green enamel over a flinqué ground, alternately decorated with engraved gold foliage with a champlevé red rose in the centre, the hinged edges set with graduated half pearls. The fruit contains a musical automaton set within a stylized foliate engraved gold mask. The varicolored gold automaton having painted enmel background of a rose garden beside a lake and houses on the far bank, consists of two musicians, one plays a lyre and the other a harp. In the foreground is an attentive dog. Above the scene is the white enamel dial with radial Roman hour chapter ring and outer minute divisions. Blued-steel Breguet hands.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-04-12
