Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, May 13, 2007

LOT 227

?Pendulette Chevalet Kingfisher Feather Dial? Cartier, Paris, No. 2242/ 3899/ 74113, the design attributed to Charles Jacqueau. Made circa 1925. Very fine and extremely rare, agate, gold, enamel, sapphire and rose-cut diamond-set, 8-day going desk clock with kingfisher feather dial and the original Cartier red morocco and gold tooled fitted case.

CHF 20,000 - 30,000

EUR 12,000 - 20,000 / USD 16,000 - 25,000

Sold: CHF 110,920

C. Agate, arch-top, the lower half set with two square cabochon sapphires in gold settings, gilt brass movement housing and strut. D. Gold chapter ring with radial Roman numerals intersected by cabochon sapphires, white enamel ground and royal blue enamel borders, glazed center decorated with a geometric mosaic of kingfisher feathers. Rose-cut diamond-set ?arrow? hands. M. European Watch & Clock Co., Inc., 19???, rhodium-plated, ?fausses cotes? decoration, 15 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with 3 adjustments, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator. Case signed Cartier, movement signed European Watch and Clock Co., Inc. Dim. 80 x 67 mm. From ?The Collection?


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Between 1925 and 1930, kingfisher feathers were occasionally used for the decoration of clock dials and exceptionally for other parts of the clock itself. Due to the natural fragility of the feathers, clocks decorated with them are extremely rare. This clock demonstrates the highly decorative quality of the use of such an unusual element which appears to be unique to Cartier. In ?Cartier ? Splendeurs de la Joaillerie?, catalogue of the exhibition in Lausanne at the Fondation de l?Hermitage, 1996, the dial of a small strut clock similar to the present clock but in nephrite was also covered with a mosaic of kingfisher feathers (No.72, page 43) and a rock crystal mystery clock ?Modele A? (No. 105, page 52) had the chapter ring and frame covered with a mosaic of kingfisher feathers. For other examples see: Antiquorum, ?The Magical Art of Cartier?, November 19, 1996, Lots 253 & 431.

Charles Jacqueau
Was one of Cartier?s most brilliant designers and considered a pioneer of the Art Deco style. He was born in Paris in 1885, the son of a master butcher and had a natural talent for drawing, Louis Cartier stumbled upon him by chance and sensing his talents, brought the young Jacqueau into the firm in 1909. Jacqueau proved to be both a visionary and a realist in his work and it was the Louvre which provided Jacqueau with his first impressions of exotic art. He visited the museum regularly to sketch objects and many of these renderings are preserved in the Cartier archives. The civilizations which provided him with the greatest stimuli were those of India, Persia, Egypt, China & Japan, he borrowed from them all in terms of color and form. Jacqueau combined the use of natural materials of low value with the most expensive gemstones. From 1910 through the 1920s he was tremendously inspired by the Ballets Russes, in particular the Diaghilev ballet ?Sheherazade?. The brilliant colors of the geometrically patterned costumes and swirling movement of the production were inspirational and revealed the magic of cultures from the near and far east and the orient. Jacqueau and Cartier were particularly fond of the blue-green match which Louis Cartier called his ?peacock? pattern. The decoration of the present clock is a fine example of this style.