Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong - Kong, Oct 09, 2010

LOT 157

Jaeger-LeCoultre White Chinois Jaeger-LeCoultre, "Plexi Opale Chinois, Atmos V", Ref. 5809. Made in the 1960s. Fine and very rare, rectangular, gilt brass and perspex (lucite) mantel clock with "chinoiserie" panels and wound by barometric pressure changes. Accompanied by the original fitted box. To be sold without reserve

HKD 30,000 - 45,000

USD 4,000 - 6,000 / EUR 3,000 - 4,500

Sold: HKD 31,250

C. Glazed on 4 sides and on the top with perspex (Lucite) panels, set with gilt chinoiserie water landscapes, the front panel with aperture to view the pendulum, stepped plinth base. D. Matte off-white with applied gilt brass faceted dart indexes and Arabic quarter-hour numerals. Gilt brass dauphine hands with black tips. M. Cal. 526-5, gilt brass, vacuum chamber winding the going barrel, lever escapement driven by annular torsion pendulum, locking screw in the base below the pendulum disc. Case, movement and vacuum signed. Dim. 23 x 18 x 14 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Atmos The Atmos clock was invented by Neuchatel engineer Jean-Léon Reutter (1899-1971) in 1928. The patent for this clock, wound by atmospheric fluctuations, was initially licensed to a French company and was subsequently purchased by Jaeger LeCoultre. After a difficult start, by 1979 these clocks had become popular and were often given to heads of state who were visiting Switzerland. Home aquariums became very popular in the 1950s; the use of tropical fish as decorative motifs has become associated with the 1950s and 60s. The Perspex panels have three-dimensional castings of fish and plants set into them. They were no doubt inspired by the famous Dunhill "aquarium" table lighters of the 1950s.