Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 12, 1996

LOT 621

Unsigned, attributed to the Jaquet-Droz workshop, made for the Chinese Market, circa 1780. Very fine 18K gold and enamel, egg-shape, centre seconds watch with special escapement.

CHF 60,000 - 65,000

Sold: CHF 57,500

C. Double body, the front of honey translucent enamel decorated in a stripped pattern with a paillonne foliage decoration on the border, the back enamelled with a very fine painted scene of a maiden with her servant, dancing and playing the Bacchante in a park while her child plays the flute, paillonne foliate frame and outer translucent blue enamel over engine-turning (slightly restored). Hinged shaped gold cuvette. D. Eccentric white enamel with Roman numerals and outer minute and seconds ring. Gold skeleton hands. M. Shaped gilt brass, Lepine calibre fully engraved with foliage, with free standing barrel, virgule escapement with plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring and regulator. In very good condition. Dim. 82 x 52 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Notes

By its style, the decoration of the case, the shape of the hands and the calibre used for the movement, this watch is very similar to those made at the same period by Jaquet-Droz for the Chinese Market and was certainely produced in Switzerland by the workshop of this celebrated maker. By the time this watch was made, Jaquet-Droz was the most eminent workshop in Switzerland for watches sold in China or presented to the Emperor or to Chinese dignitaries coming to Europe on official business. Since at this period he did not have any direct agent in China, he had to rely either on wholesalers in England trading with China or traders on location. Only these wholesalers and traders had the connections and introductions required to reach the Court or Government who were the potential buyers of such outstanding pieces. However these wholesalers and traders did not wish the name of the maker to appear on these watches, which explains why they were rarely signed. At a later date, Henry Maillardet was appointed to be in charge of the Jaquet-Droz workshop in London. He supplied the magnificent watches made by this eminent maker to Cox and Beale, the successors of J. Cox & Son in Canton, the famous dealers of luxury clocks and watches made for the Chinese Market.