The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 256

Leucothea and Phoebus ApolloIsaac Perrot, Geneva, enamel in the style of Pierre Huaud I, circa 1660.Extremely fine and rare 20 ct. gold and enamel single-hand pendant watch.

C. Two-body, 'bassine' with turned-in edges, finely painted on enamel, the principal scene on the back representing Leucothea and Phoebus Apollo after an engraving by Henrik Goltzius (1558-1617), with the following below it : Scretum veneris qui divulgarat amorem Phoebus, Leucothoes prodondis ignibus ardet Quid Divum amplexus, quid prosunt osula ? vivam Leucothoen ferra crutur Pater obruit acra.It refers to the episode, adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, in which Phoebus assumed the appearance of Leucothea's mother in order to approach the maiden without arousing suspicion. The figure in the doorway is Leucothea's sister, who believed the liaison was between her mother and sister, and informed her father, who condemned his daughter to be buried alive. In the painting, Phoebus rejoins his mistress while Amor holds back the bed-curtains. The inside enamel is painted with ruins on a riverank, the band with four rural scenes in cartouches, short pendant, loose ring. D.White enamel, Roman chapters with quarter-hour divisions, inside finely painted Venus and Cupid. Steel 'beetle' hand. M. 33.5 mm o, hinged, gilt brass full plate with unusual pierced pillars, fusee and gut line for the going train, two-arm steel circular foliot, elongated cock symmetrically pierced and engraved with floral decoration, worm and wheel set-up.Signed on the back plate.Diam. 39 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 84-85.