The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 200

The Elephants.James Cox, Nos. 621 and 628, casemaker P. M. incuse, Peter Mounier, circa 1770.Extremely rare and fine, 20 ct. gold and enamel, pair-cased, ruby-set, symmetrically decorated virtual pair of quarter repeating watches, made for the Chinese market. With original keys and later leather fitted box.

C. Outer: two-body, the backs with silhouettes of Asiatic war elephants in translucent imperial blue basse taille enamel, the borders with a foliate wreath of similar enamel, box-hinged, the bezels, bows and push-pieces set with rubies. The elephants, the turreted howdahs they carry and the ground on which they stand are engraved in detail below the enamel. The animals are young, retaining their mammoth-like hairiness. Inner: two-body, 'bassine', the bands pierced and engraved with inhabited folage, masks at the bases and rural scenes around the pendant necks, the backs engraved with a bouquet of flowers. D. Enamel, small Roman chapter ring set in the centre on a white ground with a minute ring, the border painted on enamel with continuous rural scene. Blued-steel 'arrow and poker' hands. M. 22 mm o, gilt brass full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, blued-steel balance spring, single-footed gilt cock, pierced and engraved withasymmetrical scrolls, repeating on a bell by depressing the pendant.Signed on the movements.Diam. 35 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 232-233.