Important Collectors’ Wristwatches Po...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 21, 1995

LOT 850

J. van Ceule Le Jeune, Hagae, 1378, Dutch, circa 1660 and 1710. Magnificient gold, enamel and gem-set paincased watch.

CHF 0 - 0

C. Outer, double body bassine, the bezels of pierced silver leaf work entirely set with rose diamonds, 8 larger stones paired with 8 large rubies. The back inset with a Blois school enamel panel in the manner of Le Brun depicting Mars and Venus on the exterior with putti in attendance, and Diana and Acteon on the inside with Cupid attendant. Iuner, double body, plain polished. D. Gold champlevé with finely matted graind, Roman and Arabic numerals and rosediamond half-hour marks. Blued-steel beetle-andpoker hands. M. Gilt, full-plate, sqaure balluster pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, polished three-am steel balance with spring and regulator. Large English pattern pierced and florally engraved eared balance cock. Signed on the dial and movement. In excellent condition. Diam: 57mm.


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Notes

Johannes van Ceulen, Le Jeune, son of Johannes. Working from circa 1700 to circa 1725. Examples of his work, including several enamel watches, are preserved in the Ashmolean,Geemante and Prague Museums. The art of painting in enamel reached its zenith in France in the third quarter of the 17th Century, and despite the fine work executed in Switzerland circa 1700, the mastery was lost before the turn of the century. Many Blois watch case were subsequently converted into snuff boxes during the 18th Century when the movements became technically obsolete, and frequently the backs and covers were preserved for their beauty alone. However, van Ceulen has, by the addition of precious stones on botte frame and dial, created a watch, incorporating an earlier panel, but nonetheless as luxurious and spectacular as the original would have been, albeit technically more advanced.