Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Hong Kong, Jul 23, 2020
LOT 27
E. J. Dent
Historical presentation pocket watch, made for the Spanish market; 18K yellow gold
HKD 48,000 - 64,000
CHF 6,000 - 8,000 / USD 6,400 - 8,500
A Watch Offered by the Duchess of Fernán Núñez
18K yellow gold, hunting-case, key-winding, round-shaped, pocket watch, made for the Spanish market, with subsidiary seconds at 6 and one horological complication:
• Minute-repeater on two steel gongs by two hammers (activated by the slide at 2 o’clock)
• Minute-repeater on two steel gongs by two hammers (activated by the slide at 2 o’clock)
Cover and case-back guilloché (engine-turned); cover engraved in taille-douce (fine-cut) with a coat-of-arms surmounting an Earl’s crown and stamped with a Duke crown, surrounded by the motto “Fluminum Familia Gotorum ex Sanguine Regum”; case-back engraved in taille- douce (fine-cut) with the cypher “F N”, of the Duchess of Fernán Núñez, province of Córdoba, Andalusia (Spain).
Cuvette (dome) engraved in taille-douce (fine-cut) with the Spanish mention “Recuerdo de Pilarita / á Manolo. / 1o de enero 1854.” (Remembrance of Pilarita / to Manolo. / January 1st, 1854.).
Silver stamped satiné dial with radial Roman numerals; the centre with scrolled floral decoration; the rim with gold scrolled floral frieze; blued steel “Breguet” hands.
Movement 18’’’, 4/5 plate, gilded brass, turned baluster pillars, fusee and chain, maintaining power, duplex escapement, cut bimetallic compensated balance with gold poising screws and blued steel flat hairspring, engraved gilded cock, diamond end-stone in a blued steel setting, polished steel index regulator; gilded brass sprung dust ring (stamped “I•B”).
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3-11 |
Good Slightly worn |
Movement: 2* |
Very good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Brand E. J. Dent, London (Royal Exchange)
Year circa 1853
Movement No. 18 462
Case No. 18 462 (by Alfred Stram, London; with London letterdate for 1853-1854)
Caliber 18’’’, duplex escapement
Dimensions Ø 50.6 mm.
Signature dial, cuvette (dome) and movement
Notes
The Duchy of Fernán Núñez
The County (“Condado”) of Fernán Nuñez is a Spanish noble title erected by Felipe IV (1605- 1665), King of Spain (1621-1665), by decree of April 16, 1639, in favour of Alonso Estacio Gutiérrez de los Rios y Angulo. Its name refers to the Andalusian municipality of Fernán Núñez, in the province of Córdoba. It was granted the Greatness (or Grandee) of Spain on December 23, 1728, and was elevated to the Duchy (or Dukedom) of Fernán Núñez in 1817.
The County (“Condado”) of Fernán Nuñez is a Spanish noble title erected by Felipe IV (1605- 1665), King of Spain (1621-1665), by decree of April 16, 1639, in favour of Alonso Estacio Gutiérrez de los Rios y Angulo. Its name refers to the Andalusian municipality of Fernán Núñez, in the province of Córdoba. It was granted the Greatness (or Grandee) of Spain on December 23, 1728, and was elevated to the Duchy (or Dukedom) of Fernán Núñez in 1817.
Carlos José Francisco de Paula Gutiérrez de los Ríos y Sarmiento de Sotomayor (Lisbon, January 3, 1779 – Paris, November 27, 1822), 7th Count of Fernán Núñez and 1st Duke of Fernán Núñez the Great of Spain, 6th Marquis of Castel-Moncayo, 5th Marquis of Alameda, 19th Lord of the Huguera of Vargas the Great of Spain, was a Spanish diplomat. He held diplomatic positions at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Later, he became ambassador to the capitals of London and Paris. His great diplomatic skill won him the sympathy and favour of Ferdinand VII (1784-1833), King of Spain (1814-1833), who made him in 1817 a Duke, being the last Count and first Duke of Fernán Núñez, being the last incumbent to exercise lordly jurisdiction over the town of Fernán Núñez.
The latter does not appear to have any direct male descendants. The title goes to his youngest daughter, Doña María Francisca de Asís Gutiérrez de los Ríos y Solís Vignancourt (1801- 1836), 2nd Duchess of Fernán Núñez, and Duchess del Arco. Then to her daughter, Doña María del Pilar Loreto Ossorio y Gutiérrez de los Ríos (1829-1921), 3rd Duchess of Fernán Núñez, person probably nicknamed “Pilarita”, who seems to be offering this watch to a third party, “Manolo”, on January 1st 1854. It may have been Manuel Falcó d’Adda (1828-1892), 14th Marquess of Almonacid de los Oteros, 3rd Duke of Fernán Núñez, her husband (married October 4, 1852), a Spanish diplomat and politician, who was Spanish ambassador to France.
The latter does not appear to have any direct male descendants. The title goes to his youngest daughter, Doña María Francisca de Asís Gutiérrez de los Ríos y Solís Vignancourt (1801- 1836), 2nd Duchess of Fernán Núñez, and Duchess del Arco. Then to her daughter, Doña María del Pilar Loreto Ossorio y Gutiérrez de los Ríos (1829-1921), 3rd Duchess of Fernán Núñez, person probably nicknamed “Pilarita”, who seems to be offering this watch to a third party, “Manolo”, on January 1st 1854. It may have been Manuel Falcó d’Adda (1828-1892), 14th Marquess of Almonacid de los Oteros, 3rd Duke of Fernán Núñez, her husband (married October 4, 1852), a Spanish diplomat and politician, who was Spanish ambassador to France.