Important watches and collector's Wis...

Hong Kong, Victoria Hotel, Jun 17, 1994

LOT 379

Not signed, (Jacquet-Droz?), Swiss, made for the Chinese market, circa 1790. The enamel painted in the manner of Jean Abraham Lissignol. Magnificent 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl and diamond set, musical snuff-box with a center-seconds watch.

HKD 0 - 0

Sold: HKD 2,721,950

C. Three body, the lid with a finely painted pastoral scene, four landscapes painted on side panels, intersected with small panels decorated with paillonné formai urns over a blue enamel ground within white frames, the bottom panel with a very fine painted enamel scene of country life. The watch is set on the lid with a rose-diamond set bezel. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. D. White enamel with Roman numerals. Gold hands. M. Carillon gilt brass, shaped, skeltonized, fusee with chain, pin-drum with five hammer playing on five bells. Watch gilt brass with hinged cuvette, drawn from the Lepine caliber with free standing barrels engraved with scrolled foliage. Virgule escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring. In perfect condition. Dim. 89 x 58 x 38 mm. Estimate: HK$ * * " SFr.


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Notes

Although not signed, the layout of the watch and of carillon movement, the shape of the bridges and of the hammers, enable to attribute it to the workshop of Jaquet-Droz, the best specialist of the period for musical watches and music snuff boxes made for the Chinese market. The enamel scenes are painted in the manner of Jean Abraham Lissignol. Lissignol, Jean Abraham - Born in Geneva on May 1749, died in Plainpalais on June 28 1819. Very fine enameler, he was the pupil of Jean-Marc Roux and became his partner. Specialised in snuff-boxes and watch cases, he worked for Jaquet Droz and Leschot, the Rochat Brothers and John Rich. Similar boxes are illustrated in A. Chapuis: History of the Musical Boxes, pages 140 et 141, fig. 125 to 128.