Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 12, 1996

LOT 593

Goldney, St. James's Street, London, No. 5308 and 5497, made circa 1820 from elements of a watch case attributed to Thelot, circa 1700. Unique pair of 20K gold watches, formed from a magnificent baroque watch-case almost certainly repousse by Thelot.

CHF 80,000 - 90,000

C. The reverse of one case is formed by the cover of the original case with added band, chased bezel and cast pendant and bow. The other case is made from the bassine bowl of the original case with cast loose-ring pendant,and added chased bezels. Each in gilt brass glazed engine-turned protecting case. The exceedingly high relief repousse work of the battle scenes is attributed to Johann Andreas Thelot. D. Both in gold with raised Roman numerals on matted ground. Gold "pear" hands. M. Almost identical, each hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, cylinder escapement, plain polished steel threearm balance with diamond end-stone, flat balance spring, English cock engraved with mask and flowers. Gilt brass dust cap. Movement 5497 with gilt brass dust cap, movement 5308 without, being in a case with a fixed dome. Each signed and numbered on the back plate. Thanks to the glazed protecting cases, these watches are almost in perfect condition. Diam. Each 47 mm.


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Notes

From the collection of Lady Kinloss, this unique pair of watches is reputed to have been made from a watch belonging to Richard Temple, First Viscount Cobham, (1675-1749), British Envoy to the Imperial Court in Vienna. He served with distinction under Marlborough, the primary creator of the Landscape House and Collection at Stowe Park, Bucks. The battle scenes do not seem to be linked with a recorded iconography, nor to any known battle or campaign. However, the bound Turkish captives on the running frieze to the band, centered by a cartouche of Victory and eagles, possibly Imperial, flanking the pendant, might suggest an allusion to the Relief of Vienna and subsequent Rout of the Turks by King John Sobieski of Poland, in 1689. The present watch case, albeit now separated into two, would appear to be the first attributable to Thelot. The particularly high relief of the battle scenes, can be considered in matter of repousse, as a masterpiece work, not only for a watch case, but also for any Baroque goldsmith piece of art. Johann Andreas Thelot (1655-1743), outstanding Augsburg gold chaser of the Baroque period.