Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 25, 1993

LOT 347

Czapek & Cie. a Geneve, N.3221, Exposition de Londre, 1851, enamel attributed to Auguste Dutertre, Swiss, circa 1850. Exceptionally rare and fine gold and enamel cigar case combined with a watch, made for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and formerly in the Palace collections of King Farouk of Egypt.

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

Sold: CHF 292,250

C. Three part, entirely engraved shallow chasing and taille douce techniques with fern foliage, caryatid figures and masks and enamelled with floral and scroll motifs in white, pale blue, pale green and translucent enamels with three panels on each of the sides depicting views of Granada, Geneve, Constantinople and Naples, two finely executed battle scenes in mediaeval style. Hinged top over the cigar compartment with the upper most part of the lid also decorated with a panel of flowers and opening to reveal the watch. D. Small white enamel, Roman hour numerals, outer minute ring. Blued-steel spade hands. M. Extra flat frosted and gilt bar caliber, 8 jewels, cylinder escapement with plain 3-arm brass balance, flat spring and regulator. Signed on the gold movement cover plate. In good condition. Dims. 140 x 73 x 24mm.


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Notes

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of King Farouk of Egypt and sold by Sotheby's, Cairo, 13th March, 1954, lot 688. Francois Czapek born 1811, a Pole of Czeck origin, moved to Geneva in 1831 following the Czeck uprising. He founded the business later to become Patek Phillipe in partnership with his colleague Anton Norbert de Patek. Subsequently Francois Czapek began to spend longer periods in Poland and their partnership was dissolved in 1845, when Patek went into business with Adrian Phillipe, inventor of the keyless winding system. Czapek subsequently went into business on his own account, trading mostly with Poland and France and producing similar products to his former partner. The attribution of the enamel work and the cigar case to August Dutertre can be made with some certainty in view of the fact that this piece was exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. According to the official catalogue (Vol 3. p.1280) Dutertre won a gold medal for his exhibits of gold and enamel objects, and amongst these was a gold cigar case ' gold cigar case with enamel and painting and a watch attached.' There is no immediatly apparent connection between the four lake and seaside views depicted on the case and the two battle scenes, although the latter are based on conflict between Turkish and European armies. It is known that Czapek, in his trade with Poland produced watches decorated with scenes from important events in Polish history, and also portraits of illustrious personages from the past. One suitable candidate for the action shown in the scenes could be events from the life of Jean Sobieski, King of Poland, born in 1629, died 1696. He was amongst the most successful military leaders of Polandand responsible for uniting his country. Notable military successes included his repulse of an invasion of 100,000 Tartars, Turks and Cossacks in 1667, and particularly a defeat of an army of some 300,000 Turks and Tartars beneath the walls of Vienna in 1683. Although the costumes worn are somewhat mediaeval in character, this may be more a question of artists licence than an attempt to depict the scene in exactly contemporary style.