41,400 CHF
“Chinese Snuff Bottle” Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, movement No. 410236, delivered in 1929. Elaborate case by Verger Frères No. 12407, retailed by Van Cleef & Arpels, Paris. Very fine and rare 18K gold, silver, and carved turquoise, lapis lazuli and black onyx Art Deco 8-day going desk clock fitted to a Chinese snuff bottle with rotating ring hour display. Accompanied by a Certficate of Authenticity. Light blue turquoise snuff bottle carved in high-relief with roses, lotus flowers and Oriental ladies on either side,lapis lazuli ring above with gold borders bearing the hour display, turquoise stopper decorated en suite, steppedsquare base with top of lapis lazuli with gold ring, above two black onyx steps decorated with lapis lazuli at eachcorner, gold square feet. Gold ring with Arabic numerals, and quarter divisions indicated in aperture at the lapislazuli ring. R. A. 19’’’-8 jours, rhodium-plated, 17 jewels, straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compen-sationbalance with eight adjustments, blued steel Breguet balance spring.Signed on the movement, case punched with Verger Frères marks, base engraved with the retailer’s name.Dim. Height 12 cm., base width 7 cm. Notes The fashion for snuff bottles in China began with the introduction of tobacco in that country from Europe, around the end of the 16th century. First smoked in pipes, tobacco only began to be taken in the form of snuff during the Qing Dynasty (established in 1644), when smoking was forbidden. Con
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-04-03
