Important Collectors’ Wristwatches Po...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 21, 1995

LOT 671

Etienne Lenoir à Paris, No. 2361, with Paris hallmarks for 1750. Fine 20 carat gold and enamel dumb quarterrepeating watch, with matching chatelaine.

CHF 12,000 - 15,000

C. Double body, Louis XV, decorated on the bezel and back with raised Su ramer flowers and green foliage enamelled "en pâte" in the marner of Louis François Aubert, over engine-turning in a basket work pattern. Large rose-diamond thumb pieces. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring, winding aperture at two o' clock. Gold Louis XV hands. M. Gilt brass full plate with turned pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement with plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, silver regulator scale. Pierced gilt brass Continental cock with polished steel endpiece. Dumb quarter-repeating with two hammers on blocks the "à toc" piece in the edge of the engraved dial plat activated by depressing the pendant. Signed on the dial and movement. In very good condition. Diam. 46 mm.


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Notes

The case of this watch is decorated with enamelled "fleurs à relief", much in favour for snuff boxes between 1748 and 1755. These dates coincide with the working lifetime of Louis François Aubert ( 1721-1755) to whom this work is generally attributed. Similar watch cases are known and it is interesting to point out that among the items found unfinished in his workshop after his death, there were several snuff boxes and a watch case. See Anna Somers Cocks and Charles Truman: Renaissance Jewels, Gold Boxes and Objects of Vertu - The Thysen Bornemisza Collection.