Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, Oct 15, 2006

LOT 147

"Vue de Thun" Swiss. Dated 1853. Very fine and very rare, oil painting on panel of a view of the Swiss village of Thun with quarter striking clock and brass inlaid rosewood frame.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

EUR 4,500 - 5,700 / USD 5,700 - 7,500

Sold: CHF 11,210

C. Rectangular rose wood frame secured to the back box with two hooks. Finely painted oil on panel view of Thun riverside and church, the clock tower with radial Roman numerals. Blued steel "arrow" hands. M. Circular brass, going barrels for the going and striking trains, anchor escapement, brass bob pendulum, quarter striking on two gongs with two hammers, strikework mounted on the backplate, stop/start pulls in the side of the case. Back of picture dated 1853. Dim. 106 x 78 cm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Notes

The present clock is a particularly high quality example of the genre with fine brass-inlaid rosewood frame and well painted view. Unusually, the scene can be identified as the Swiss village of Thun. South of Bern lies the grand Alpine heart of Switzerland, a massively impressive region of classic Swiss scenery - high peaks, sheer valleys and cool lakes. Just south of Bern is the picturesque town of Thun (pronounced toon), set on the Thunersee lake. The River Aare flows north out of the lake, dividing Thun. On the right bank, the low-lying old town is renowned for the arcading of its main street, Hauptgasse; steps lead up from the street to the fairytale turreted castle of 1190, which looms above. A short walk east is the waterfront Kunstmuseum, which stages exhibitions of modern art. In the lakeside Schadau Park, an odd cylindrical building houses the Wocher Panorama, a giant painting running around the interior wall depicting the daily life of Thun circa 1810. Thunersee is one of Switzerland's more beautiful Alpine lakes. Views from the water of the pyramidal Niesen (2,362m) and flat-topped Stockhorn (2,190m) - which both rise just beside the lake - as well as the snow-capped Alpine giants further south, are stunning.