Important Watches, Pocket Watches and...

Noga Hilton Hotel, Nov 13, 2005

LOT 197

?The Bath of Bathsheba? Painting on enamel attributed to the Frères Huaud. Made in Berlin, circa 1700. Very fine and very rare gold and enamel snuffbox.

CHF 25,000 - 30,000

EUR 16,000 - 20,000 / USD 20,000 - 23,000

Sold: CHF 109,250

C. Rectangular, the gold framework cast, chased and engraved with stylized leaves and scrolls, the corners as fluted columns hung with swags, hinged lid, set with an enamel plaque depicting the Bath of Bathsheba, the interior set with a beveled mirror within a scalloped border, the sides and base enameled with biblical and classical scenes, the front depicting Samson & Delilah, the back depicting Venus and Adonis and the base depicting the fountain in the garden of Love, each side depicting scenes allegorical of youth and old age. Gold frame numbered 300. Dim. 74 x 54 x 36 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good

Notes

The present box is illustrated in Antiquorum, Vox, Summer 2004, p. 43. A detailed discussion of Geneva enameling is contained in the same issue, p. 40 - 49. See also: ?Dictionnaire des horlogers genevois?, by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, 1998. Bathsheba of great beauty, was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. David saw her from the roof of his palace and coveted her. Being faithful to her husband, she refused David's advances. David contrived to have her husband killed and then married her. As a punishment, the Lord caused the firstborn child of David and Bathsheba to die. David admitted that he had sinned and repented. He was forgiven and a second child was born, who was named Solomon. Samson & Delilah The Philistines, always seeking an opportunity to bring Samson's downfall, saw their chance when he took Delilah, a Philistine woman as his lover. They bribed her to persuade Samson to reveal the source of his great strength - his hair, which had not been cut since birth. Delilah lulled Samson to sleep and then signaled to a waiting Philistine who entered her bedchamber and cut off his hair, he awoke to find himself helpless prey to his enemies. Venus & Adonis His beauty was a byword and Venus conceived a helpless passion for him as the result of a chance graze she received from Cupid's arrow. Venus seduces Adonis and as he leaves to go hunting she tries to restrain him dragging off his cloak or tunic as he leaves. The Frères Huaud JJean Pierre and Ami Huaud. Sons of Pierre Huaud I, partners from 1682 to 1688. They were appointed painters to the Court of the Brandenburg Elector in 1686, perhaps thanks to their older brother Pierre II's recommendation, and went to Berlin where they lived and worked until 1700, at which point they returned to Geneva. In 1686 they signed "Les deux frères Huaut Les Jeunes"; after 1686 "Les Frères Huaud" or "Les deux frères Huaud" with the addition of "peintres de son A. E. à Berlin" or "p.d. V. A. fct à Berlin". After their return to Geneva in 1700 their signature appeared as" Les frères Huaut", "Les deux frères Huaut", or "Peter et Amicus Huaut", they also signed "Fratres Huault". The name is spelt alternately Huaud, Huaut, or Huault. The Huaud brothers, like their older brother Pierre II, used warm colors offset by cold colors. They particularly employed tones of scarlet, yellow orange, cobalt blue, vivd green, and purple. Their painting is characterized by small brush strokes and subtle gradations of color, by which they achieved gentle modeling. Literature: ?La Montre des Origines au XIXe siècle" by Catherine Cardinal, Office du Livre, Fribourg, 1985. ?Dictionnaire des horlogers genevois?, Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, 1998.