Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Hong Kong, Jul 23, 2020
LOT 60
Ilbery
Large pocket watch made for the Chinese market; 18K yellow gold, pearls and enamel
Large pocket watch made for the Chinese market; 18K yellow gold, pearls and enamel
HKD 300,000 - 400,000
CHF 36,500 - 49,000 / USD 39,000 - 51,500
18K yellow gold, pearl-set and enamel, open-face, key-winding, roundshaped, large pocket watch with subsidiary seconds at 6, made for the Chinese market.
Royal blue flinqué enamel (translucent enamel over guilloché engineturning) case-back, with a large bunch of summer flowers; the painting on enamel on gold attributable to a Genevan painter on enamel; the case-band engraved in taille-douce (fine-cut); the bezels set with a double row of half pearls; pendant and bow set with half pearls.
White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals; yellow gold “Spade” hands and equilibrated small second-hand.
22’’’, gilded brass, engraved Chinese-style with scrolled foliage, freestanding going barrel, duplex escapement, monometallic balance (blued steel) with five arms and blued steel flat hairspring, diamond end-stone, index regulator.
Royal blue flinqué enamel (translucent enamel over guilloché engineturning) case-back, with a large bunch of summer flowers; the painting on enamel on gold attributable to a Genevan painter on enamel; the case-band engraved in taille-douce (fine-cut); the bezels set with a double row of half pearls; pendant and bow set with half pearls.
White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals; yellow gold “Spade” hands and equilibrated small second-hand.
22’’’, gilded brass, engraved Chinese-style with scrolled foliage, freestanding going barrel, duplex escapement, monometallic balance (blued steel) with five arms and blued steel flat hairspring, diamond end-stone, index regulator.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 2* |
Very good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Brand Ilbery, London (made probably in Fleurier, Val-de-Travers, and in Geneva)
Year circa 1830-1835
Movement No. 6 367
Case No. 6 650
Diameter Ø 60 mm.
Caliber 22’’’, duplex escapement
Signature movement
Notes
Ilbery, William (?-1839)
Active in London from 1780. Following James Cox in London and Jaquet-Droz in the Neuchâtel mountains and Geneva, he specialized in luxury watches made for the Chinese market. His early production was in the English style, with a full plate movement and an English type single wheel duplex escapement; however, for his highest quality watches he incorporated a spring detent escapement (Peto-type). The cases were in the style of those made in England at the time. Later, his watch movements were much inspired by the Lépine calibre with freestanding barrel, as were those of Jaquet-Droz’s Swiss production signed in London and that of William Anthony, who worked in London. He set a new standard for watches made for the Eastern market. He had profusely engraved movements made in Switzerland, mainly in Fleurier, being followed in this by makers such as Bovet and Juvet. These watchmakers organized the mass production of silver-cased watches and later, once their Canton manufactures were opened, assembled them in China. Ilbery can therefore be considered the “father” of “Chinese” watches as they are known today. Ilbery’s watch cases were decorated by Geneva’s best enamellers, such as Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont and Jean-Louis Richter. He seems to have maintained close contacts with the continental trade, since a watch signed “Ilbery Paris” is known and “Ilbery & Son” are recorded in London and Fleurier, as well as in Canton.
The Chinese and the Flowers
Flowers have great symbolic importance for the Chinese. By their form, aspect, and fragrance, they are considered to be highly spiritual, reflecting the profound nature of the Chinese people. Poems and proverbs show the cultural importance of flowers: “There is no flower without beauty in the world”, “A flower gives us a glimpse of paradise”, etc. Certain flowers have a particular significance. The lotus symbolizes purity, the chrysanthemum perseverance, the plum blossom integrity, etc.
The peony, with its generous forms, brilliant colours, and heady fragrance, became the most important flower for the Chinese. It is considered to symbolize wealth, nobility, power, and happiness. Known as the “queen of flowers”, the peony symbolizes wealth and distinction.
Paintings of flowers are often hung in Chinese homes for good luck and in offices to bring success in business. The deep and rich symbolism the Chinese attached to flowers made them an ideal subject for expensive watches and those destined for exalted patrons, even for the Emperor himself. The symbolism of each flower would have been immediately recognized and appreciated by China’s elite, who would have seen in them a flattering reference to their own wealth and power.
Active in London from 1780. Following James Cox in London and Jaquet-Droz in the Neuchâtel mountains and Geneva, he specialized in luxury watches made for the Chinese market. His early production was in the English style, with a full plate movement and an English type single wheel duplex escapement; however, for his highest quality watches he incorporated a spring detent escapement (Peto-type). The cases were in the style of those made in England at the time. Later, his watch movements were much inspired by the Lépine calibre with freestanding barrel, as were those of Jaquet-Droz’s Swiss production signed in London and that of William Anthony, who worked in London. He set a new standard for watches made for the Eastern market. He had profusely engraved movements made in Switzerland, mainly in Fleurier, being followed in this by makers such as Bovet and Juvet. These watchmakers organized the mass production of silver-cased watches and later, once their Canton manufactures were opened, assembled them in China. Ilbery can therefore be considered the “father” of “Chinese” watches as they are known today. Ilbery’s watch cases were decorated by Geneva’s best enamellers, such as Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont and Jean-Louis Richter. He seems to have maintained close contacts with the continental trade, since a watch signed “Ilbery Paris” is known and “Ilbery & Son” are recorded in London and Fleurier, as well as in Canton.
The Chinese and the Flowers
Flowers have great symbolic importance for the Chinese. By their form, aspect, and fragrance, they are considered to be highly spiritual, reflecting the profound nature of the Chinese people. Poems and proverbs show the cultural importance of flowers: “There is no flower without beauty in the world”, “A flower gives us a glimpse of paradise”, etc. Certain flowers have a particular significance. The lotus symbolizes purity, the chrysanthemum perseverance, the plum blossom integrity, etc.
The peony, with its generous forms, brilliant colours, and heady fragrance, became the most important flower for the Chinese. It is considered to symbolize wealth, nobility, power, and happiness. Known as the “queen of flowers”, the peony symbolizes wealth and distinction.
Paintings of flowers are often hung in Chinese homes for good luck and in offices to bring success in business. The deep and rich symbolism the Chinese attached to flowers made them an ideal subject for expensive watches and those destined for exalted patrons, even for the Emperor himself. The symbolism of each flower would have been immediately recognized and appreciated by China’s elite, who would have seen in them a flattering reference to their own wealth and power.