The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 251

Vita fugitCharles Bobinet, Paris, circa 1650.Very fine and rare silver, single-hand pendant form watch in the shape of a skull, with concealed dial.

C. Double-body, cast in relief, repoussé, and chased, the jaw hinged at the back of the neck to reveal the dial set in the underside of the head. The forehead and head engraved with an hourglass and the mottos: 'Vita fugit, Vt hora', 'dum Viuis Viue Vt Vuias', 'Caduca despice aeterna respice', and 'Incerta Mortis hora'. D. Silver champlevé with radial Roman chapters and half-hour divisions, centre engraved with flowers. Blued-steel hand.M. 28.7 mm o, hinged, gilt brass full plate, turned baluster pillars, fusee and gut-line for the going train, verge escapement, two-arm steel circular foliot, elongated cock asymmetrically pierced with floral engraving, secured by a screw, ratchet wheel and click set-up.Signed on the back plate.Dim: height 42 mm, width 30 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 374-375.