This watch is an excellent example illustrating the popularity of Indian scenes in China, where the elephant is a symbol of wisdom and of moral and spiritual strength. A similar watch decorated with a tiger fighting an elephant is illustrated by Alfred Chapuis in his book "La Montre Chinoise" (Neuchâtel, 1919, colour pl. following p. 192), strongly suggesting that the enamel of this watch was painted by Pierre-Amédée Champod (1834-1913), swiss painter on enamel. Champod, Pierre-Amédée (1834-1913) Along with John Graff, Amédée Champod was one of the most celebrated enamel painters of the second part of the 19th century and early 20th century, specialising in hunting scenes. In his autobiography (which has been preserved by his descendants), he writes that he wanted to be a painter of large format scenes, but that economic realities led him to painting on enamel. He studied with Huguenin, Sauerländer and Charles Glardon, who had the strongest impact on his future style. Champod dropped out of school at eleven and at sixteen began working. At the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900, Champod received a silver medal. His technique was outstanding, the sense of dynamics in his compositions was unrivalled.