Important Wristwatches, Watches & Clocks

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 11, 1992

LOT 557

P.Lagisse (Geneva & Isphahan), circa 1680. Extremely rare and fine gilt-metal and enamel watch, made for the Persian Market.

CHF 80,000 - 100,000

Sold: CHF 115,000

C.Two-part frame with chevron engraved decoration,the back entirely overlaid with a gilt-brass panel pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage and centred with a bird of prey swooping down on a fox. over a turquoise blue enamel ground, the interior of similar blue enamel centred with a pink rose within black foliage border. Loose ring pendant, split bezel for the glass. D. GiIt brass, engraved Roman numerals with half and quarter hour divisions, the centre engraved with a profusion of summer flowers. Single tulip pattern blued-steel hand. M. Gilt-brass plates, turned balluster pIllars, fusee with chain, blued-steel ratchet wheel and click, stop-work mounted on the backplate, short train, verge escapement with plain three-arm steel balance, flat spring and regulator with blued-steel retaining sector for the rack and silver indicator disk retained by a bluedsteel cock. Foliage pierced and engraved cock with irregular foot. Signed on the movement. In very good condition. Diam. 39.5 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image

Notes

This watch can be attributed with virtual certainty to Pierre Didier Lagisse ( See note to lot 558). Furthermore there are elements of its decoration that can be closely linked to his working in Persia. Turquoise enamel is in effect a combination of green, the Islamic colour associated with Allah, and blue, the colour associated with good fortune; as discussed under lot 558, the pink rose is the flower of Persia,and forms a pronounced feature of the decoration. Although the watchmakers who settled in the Middle East were capable of working to a high standard, the fine quality and smooth finish exhibited on interior shell of this watch is more reminiscent of the work of the Huaud family, notably Pierre Huaud the father, who specialised in the blue groundwork in combination with black and pink decorations. Provenance: Formerly in the Maryatt Collection, No.G.2;