The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 216

Sermand, Geneva, circa 1640.Exceptional, gold, enamel and faceted rock crystal form watch designed as a cross.

CHF 0 - 0

USD 0 - 0

Sold: CHF 86,000

C. Two-body, rock crystal front and back covers mounted in gold bezels with black champlevé enamel, decorated with gold scrolling pattern and white enamel spots, small enamelled finial, tulip-shaped enamelled pendant.D. Gold, cross-shaped, hinged, with radial Roman hour chapters in the centre with half-hour dots, the arms decorated with stylised flowers in translucent red enamel for petals and translucent green for leaves over flinqué engraving. Blued-steel hand. M. Cross-shaped, 24 x 34 mm, gilt brass full plate, fusee and gut-line, short four-wheel train with five-leaf pinions, verge escapement, steel two-arm circular foliot, elongated cock pierced and engraved with flowers secured by a screw, ratchet wheeand click mainspring set-up.Signed on the movement.Dim. 55 x 29 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 372-373.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 18
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

The dial is reminiscent of an earlier period, and its decoration follows patterns presented in the 'Livre contenant passements de moresques' by Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, published in France in the 16th century. Compare with lot No. 151. A watch of his in an oval case with rock crystals on both sides is in the Louvre Museum, inv. OA 7035.Provenance: previously in the collection of The King of Naples.Jaques Sermand oncle (1595-1651)Son of Henry. Master watchmaker. Made agate and rock crystal form watches designed as a cross, a star, a tulip, or a skull. Signed a watch designed as a six-pointed star with fitted box. He formed 11 apprentices, among whom are: Robert Legrand in 1623; Pierre Reboul in 1627; Claude Reboul in 1628; Isaac Penard in1632; Jacques I Joly in 1635; Amy Colavin in 1639; Paul Fabbi in 1640; Alexandre Larrive in 1644; Pierre Dunant et Jean Dunant in 1645; Thomas Ravaud in 1648.The 'Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois' by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998: