179,500 CHF
Family Life in the Country H. G. (probably Henri Girardier), Geneva, No. 1140, made for the Italian market, circa 1850.Exceptional and rare 18K gold and painted on enamel carnet fitted with concealed watch and concealed portrait compartment, with matching gold pencil. Accompanied by fitted tortoiseshell box. Shaped as a small book, both sides centered with large spring-loaded painted on enamel medallions, front depicting a man on horseback handing a small child to his wife, the sea in the background, when opened reveals the watch, back with a country meal prepared by two women, rural landscape in the background, and a portrait compartment, azure enamel frames, sides chased with flowers, foliage and birds, edges with translucent red enamel over flinqué with gold flowers and foliage, spine en suitesix locking rings held togetherby gold foliate engraved pen, inside small silk pockets on each side for cards, paper notebook in the center. Small, white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute track set in the center of oval gold plate with apertures for winding, setting and regulating. 34 x 21 mm., rectangular, frosted gilt, 10 jewels, cylinder escapement, three-arm gilded balance with flat balance spring.Punched "HG" on the movement.Dim. 107 x 72 mm. Notes It is very rare to find a carnet in such good condition. A similar one, signed Czapek, with the same movement punched with the same initials, was in the Lord Sandberg Collection (Antiquorum, March 31, 2001, Geneva, lot. 278).
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2002-11-16
