Only Online Auction
Geneva, Sep 22, 2021
LOT 17
Breguet
Decorative pocket watch; yellow gold and enamel
CHF 2,000 - 4,000
EUR 1,850 - 3,700 / USD 2,200 - 4,400 / HKD 17,100 - 34,100TO BE SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE
Sold: CHF 2,125
Yellow gold and enamel, open-face, key-winding, round-shaped, “Directoire” pocket watch.
Case-back showing a mythological allegory, most probably Minerva (or Athena), helmeted, with her lance and shield; the painting on enamel on gold attributable under reserve to Jean-Louis Richter (1766-1841), Geneva; the border with geometrical paillon decoration.
White enamel dial with suspended Arabic numerals; yellow gold pierced hands.
Movement 19’’’, full plate, gilded brass, fusee and chain, verge escapement, monometallic balance (probably gilded brass) and blued steel flat hairspring, pierced and engraved gilded continental cock.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: A |
Good |
Case: 3-77 |
Good ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Restored soft enamel |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-72-01 |
Good ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Chipped winding aperture HANDS Original |
Brand Breguet, probably made in Geneva
Model apocryphal signature (not Abraham-Louis Breguet)
Year circa 1790
Movement No. unnumbered
Case No. unnumbered
Material yellow gold and enamel
Diameter 51.9 mm.
Caliber 19’’’, fusee and chain, verge escapement
Weight 73.6 gr. (approx.)
Signature dial and movement
Biography
Richter, Jean-Louis (1766-1841)
Learned his art in Geneva under David-Etienne Roux and Philippe-Samuel-Théodore Roux, becoming a most renowned enamel painter. His speciality was the painting of landscapes and particularly lake-side scenes and marine-scapes, often representing ships in a harbour or battles with fighting Men-of-War, but, on occasion, also portraits and hunting scenes. He did not often sign his work, but it is clearly recognised as being in his hand from the style and quality of the painting. He applied his art principally to watch cases and snuff-boxes and these were largely destined for the Chinese, Turkish, British and Italian markets. In 1828, he was in partnership with Aimé-Julien Troll (1781-1852) and one can find work signed “Richter et Troll”. Richter, like other great enamel painters of the time, often found inspiration for his work from paintings or engravings by the artists then in fashion particularly Claude Vernet or the romanticised English and Irish rural life.
CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION FOR BUYERS
The purchase price payable by a buyer will be the sum of the final bid price plus the buyer’s premium, together with any applicable sales or compensating use tax. In addition to the hammer price, the buyer’s premium is payable as follows: 25% of the hammer price on each lot.Important notice – Special conditions Please look carefully at all the photos as they are an integral part of the description. Any defect not mentioned in the descriptions but visible on the photos will be considered as described and cannot lead to any claim. The dimensions are given as an indication and may slightly differ from the measures mentioned by the manufacturers especially for contemporary watches. The photos are not retouched. Colors may differ from reality. For timepieces, we guarantee neither the functioning nor the precision of the movement, nor the water-resistance of the case. In addition, please note that movements, parts of mechanisms or cases may be incomplete. The lots are sold “as is”, described to the best of our knowledge and cannot be returned. Once the online bid is placed by the bidder, it cannot be cancelled.