The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 151

The Virgin as Protectress of MessinaItalian, enamel painter's signature Bruno F, for Giuseppo Bruno Fecit in Messina, movement engraved with the initials NK, circa 1640.Magnificent and highly important 20 ct. gold and enamel pendant watch decorated with scenes from the lives of Saint Francis of Paola and St. John the Baptist, and the harbour of Messina.

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C. Two-part, 'bassine fermée', interior and exterior with painted enamel scenes relating to the life of Saint Francis of Paola, who gathered about him a community of followers whose Rule was based on that of the Franciscans. The front cover depicts him, according to legend, calming a storm in the Straits of Messina. He spread his cloak on the waters, also using it as a sail and his staff as a mast, thus enabling his companions to pass safely across. His motto of 'caritas' (charity) is shown in asunburst. The arms on the cloak are those of the Aragon-Pennafort family, under whose protection the island of Sicily fell in the mid-fifteenth century, and where the Saint had established a community. The scene on the back of the case is a view of the town of Messina and its cathedral dedicated to the Madonna della Lettera, in which, until it was destroyed by Allied bombardment in 1943, there was the Byzantine icon reproduced inside the front cover. The band of the gold case is enamelled en rone bosse with flowers and foliage on a matted ground, in a style typical of Sicilian enamelled jewellery of the period. The signature Bruno F. is visible beneath the scene of Messina. The engraving is by Jean Bazin after a painting by De Boulogne Le Vieux. The enamel inside the case back shows St. John the Baptist in a landscape which may well be the town of Messina, with its castle and city walls, the inside band repeats the floral motif of the outside one, ring pendant. D. Gilded, with Roman chpters, quarter-hour divisions, the centre engraved with flowers. Single gilt brass hand. M. 41 mm o, gilt brass full plates, turned vase baluster pillars, fusee of four turns with original long-hook chain, barrel with cover secured by pins, five-wheel train with second wheel with six-leaf pinion, the other wheels with five-leaves, verge escapement, plain two-arm steel balance without spring, one-footed elongated cock pierced and engraved with asymmetrical floral decoration, ratchet wheel and clik set-up covered with a gilded plate pierced and decorated similarly to the cock.Monogram on the movement, enameller's signature on the case back.Diam. 47 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, page 76-77.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 6
Movement: 3 - 13*
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

One of the most exceptional enamelled watches of the period for its masterful technique, style and artistry. Giuseppo Bruno, famous goldsmith and painter on enamel, came from a well-known family of artisans, established in Messina for over 400 years. His signature is found on several important pieces of enamelled jewellery made for the Spanish aristocracy (the Aragon family, which dominated Sicily at the time, was Spanish). We can therefore safely assume that the case is Italian. The movement fetures many characteristics of the German school : the fusee chain at the time was used mostly by the German watchmakers, the French and Swiss usually using gut-line. The barrel cover is not clipped on, but is secured by pins, in the old German manner. There seem to be traces of a hog's bristle regulator, also typical of early German work. The movement hides further surprises; the fusee great wheel, for example, has teeth cut diagonally to avoid their catching on the inside edge of the case. Theock, the set-up work and click for the mainspring are in the central European style. This combination strongly suggests that the movement was made by German watchmakers, amongst whom an important colony was working in Sicily, particularly in the city of Augusta.