74,750 CHF
“The Persian Peacock” Mermod Frères, Genève (Ste. Croix). Made for the Persian market, circa 1870. Very fine and spectacular, 18K gold, carved reverse painted crystal intaglio, turquoise and rose-diamond set hunting-cased keyless pocket watch. Four-body, the front cover set with a large domed reverse painted crystal intaglio of a peacock standing upon a starred globe, cast and chased flower and scroll border, polished band and cast and chased foliate bow, the back cover pavé-set with lines of rose-cut diamonds and cut turquoises, cast and chased flower and scroll border. Hinged gold cuvette. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track with Arabic five minute numerals, subsidiary seconds. Black steel “spade” hands. 19’’’, nickel plated, “fausses cotes” decoration, 15 jewels, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Diam. 50 mm. Notes The present watch is decorated with an exceptionally large reverse painted intaglio crystal, beautifully executed and extremely detailed. The combination of the depiction of the peacock and the use of turquoises on the reverse of the case suggest that the watch was almost certainly intended for the Persian market. The Peacock: Seen as a “royal” bird, thought to herald rain when it calls. Although the tail feathers are much admired for their beauty, the feathers are said to be symbolic of the “evil eye”, although some experts believe th
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-10-16
