Only Online Auction
Geneva, Dec 08, 2022
LOT 113
MARS AND VENUS ENAMEL PAINTING BLOIS SCHOOL
CHF 10,000 - 30,000
EUR 10,200 - 30,500 / USD 10,600 - 31,800 / HKD 83,000 - 250,000
Very fine and rare, 22K gold and painted on enamel early pendant watch.
Double-body, "bassine fermée" with curved band, entirely painted on enamel, the principal scene on the back depicting Mars and Venus after an engraving by Michel Dorigny (1617-1655), from a painting by Simon Vouet (1590-1649). Venus' affair with the god of war was revealed by Apollo to her husband Vulcan who enmeshed the lovers in an invisible net. Allegorically, Mars and Venus can be seen to represent Beauty and Valor, or the vanquishing of strife by Love. The cover depicts the Judgement ofaris. Paris is seated, disguised as a shepherd, and Mercury, holding a caduceus, is seen passing the apple to Venus. The losers, Juno and Minerva, stand to one side, and Venus' modesty is secured by Cupid. The enamel inside the cover has a house in the foreground and a river with a small bridge in the background, the scene inside the back is painted with figures and houses in a landscape, with a town in the background, the band decorated with a continuous riverside town scene.
Double-body, "bassine fermée" with curved band, entirely painted on enamel, the principal scene on the back depicting Mars and Venus after an engraving by Michel Dorigny (1617-1655), from a painting by Simon Vouet (1590-1649). Venus' affair with the god of war was revealed by Apollo to her husband Vulcan who enmeshed the lovers in an invisible net. Allegorically, Mars and Venus can be seen to represent Beauty and Valor, or the vanquishing of strife by Love. The cover depicts the Judgement ofaris. Paris is seated, disguised as a shepherd, and Mercury, holding a caduceus, is seen passing the apple to Venus. The losers, Juno and Minerva, stand to one side, and Venus' modesty is secured by Cupid. The enamel inside the cover has a house in the foreground and a river with a small bridge in the background, the scene inside the back is painted with figures and houses in a landscape, with a town in the background, the band decorated with a continuous riverside town scene.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 3-24 |
Good Slightly chipped |
Movement: 3-6-8* |
Good Slightly oxidized Slightly scratched Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-71-04 |
Good ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Hairlines HANDS Later |
Brand Gofsier, France
Year Circa 1650 for the case and movement from 1750
Movement No. 802
Material 22K gold
Diameter 45 mm.
Caliber 36.2 mm. ø, hinged, gilt brass full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain for the going train, verge escapement, plain three-arm brass balance, blued-steel balance spring, pierced and engraved continental cock, rack and pinion regulator with silver plate
Signature Movement
Notes
The subject on the back of the case is after an engraving by Michel Dorigny from a painting by Simon Vouet(1590 - 1649). The painting on this case is the work of an enameller with a distinctive style, but few comparable examples survive.
It was a common practice in the eighteenth century to replace the movement in a particularly expensive or beautiful watch case, in order to take advantage of technological advances in horology. Examples can be found in numerous museums and private collections.
It was a common practice in the eighteenth century to replace the movement in a particularly expensive or beautiful watch case, in order to take advantage of technological advances in horology. Examples can be found in numerous museums and private collections.
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: 26% of the hammer price on each lot.
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.