$12,980
Daniel de St. Leu, Watchmaker to Her Majesty, London, No. 9099, made for the Islamic market, circa 1795. Very fine and rare, 18K gold, triple-cased, quarter-striking clock watch. Outer: Two-body, tortoiseshell-covered (some cracks), the back with gold floral piqué work decoration, the bezel with sound holes. Second: Two body: the back engraved with a coat-of-arms, three crescent in pale on a military trophy and chased with a garland of leaves, the edge pierced and engraved. Inner: Two-body, the back engraved with scolling foliage and an urn of flowers, pierced band engraved with scrolling. Gilt brass dust cap. White enamel with radial Islamic numerals, outer dot minute divisions and Islamic five minute markers. Gold hands. 42.5 mm., gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, three-arm balance, gilt brass balance cock pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage. Striking on a bell. Strike-silent selection lever on the bezel. Dial, dust cap and back plate signed. Diam.72 mm. Notes Daniel de Saint Leu (active 1753-1797) Of Genevan origin. He worked in Geneva and London, watchmaker to the Queen in 1765, Saint Leu was renowned for very fine enameled and varicolored gold clockwatches set with diamonds and precious stones, and repeating watches for the Turkish and Islamic markets. He also made a magnificent silver-mounted clock for the Court of Spain. See: "Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois", by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions,
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-12-07
