Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Apr 28, 2019

LOT 529

ESQUIVILLON & DECHOUDENS DECORATIVE POCKET WATCH; YELLOW GOLD, ENAMEL AND PEARLS

HKD 70,000 - 90,000

CHF 8,900 - 11,800 / USD 9,000 - 12,000

"La Fontaine d'Amour" (The Fountain of Love) after Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) Yellow gold, enamel and pearl-set, open-face, key-winding, roundshaped, "Directoire" pocket watch. Case-back painted on enamel on gold by an unidentified Genevan workshop, showing "La Fontaine d'Amour" (The Fountain of Love), after a painting of Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806), dated circa 1785, and a contemporary engraving of Nicholas-François Regnault (1746-1810).


Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3-75

Good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Slightly restored soft enamel

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand Les Frères Esquivillon & DeChoudens

Year circa 1790

Movement No. 73 574

Calibre  17''', full plate, gilded brass, with fusee and chain, verge escapement, monometallic balance (gilded brass) and blued steel flat hairspring, pierced and engraved gilded continental cock

Material yellow gold, enamel and pearls.

Caliber 17''', full plate, gilded brass, with fusee and chain, verge escapement, monometallic balance (gilded brass) and blued steel flat hairspring, pierced and engraved gilded continental cock

Dimensions Ø 48 mm

Signature dial and movement

Accessories protective glazed case (Ø 53 mm.)

Notes

“La Fontaine d’Amour” (The Fountain of Love) This work of Fragonard known soon after its creation a great success as shown by the realization of several watches made in Geneva, circa 1790, whose enamel painting is executed from engravings widely circulated at the time. In the early 19th century, the Parisian bronzer Claude Galle (1759-1815), bronzier and fondeur-ciseleur, still used as a motif of one of his clocks (see: Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, April 10, 1994, lot 126). The painting of Fragonard (H. 64.1 cm. / L. 52.7 cm.) is today kept in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California (USA). Frères Esquivillon & DeChoudens Master watchmakers actives in the last quarter of the 18th century and in the early 19th century (between 1776 and circa 1800). In 1774, Gédéon-François Esquivillon became associated with his brother, Joseph Esquivillon, and Jaques DeChoudens (or Dechoudens).