17,480 CHF
Swiss, No. 14183, circa 1890.Very fine and rare 18K gold hunting-cased keyless minute repeating watch with concealed erotic automaton scene. Five body, massive, "bassine et filets", entirely engraved with jungle foliage, the cover with blank cartouche, the back with an elephant. Hinged gold cuvette, engraved technical details disclosing the concealed richly enamelled scene of an Arabian patio with much activity in the best tradition of racial harmony and to the delight of a youthful onlooker. White enamel with Roman numerals, and sunk subsidiary seconds. Gold "spade" hands. Notes The quality of enamel work is well above average for this type of watch. Depending upon which cover of the watch is facing upwards, the correct side will open automatically by depressing the winding crown.A similar watch, No. 14182, published in Hours of Love, by Roland Carrera, Editions Scriptar-Antiquorum, Lausanne-Genève, 1993, p. 61, was sold by Antiquorum in Hong Kong, on June 18, 1994, lot 277.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1999-10-23
