The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 310

HymenaeusJean & Michel Vieusseux, Geneva, circa 1765.Very fine 20K gold and enamel, diamond-set quarter repeating watch, dumb and on a bell, with matching gilt copper and enamelled chatelaine.

C. Outer: two-body, 'Louis XV', the main scene on the back depicting a young couple before an altar with Hymenaeus, who has his attributes of a torch and a flower wreath, surrounded by cherubs on either side, within a symmetrical gold frame, the front and back bezels fitted with rural scenes in cartouches, the push- and nib-pieces set with diamonds. Inner: two-body, pierced and engraved with inhabited foliage. The chatelaine is of gilt copper, with four painted on enamel panels, the larger top oe a scene of Venus and Adonis after Simon Vouet, the next three painted with putti in the manner of François Boucher (1703-1770), the first putto holding a torch, one of the attributes of Hymanaeus, which symbolises the fire of love, gilded dust cap. D. White enamel, radial Roman chapters, outer minute divisions with five-minute Arabic markers. Silver diamond-set 'Louis XV' hands.M. 36 mmo, hinged, gilt brass full plate, turned cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain for the going train, verge escapement, plain three-arm brass balance, blued-steel balance spring, single-footed pierced and engraved cock, repeating on a bell by depressing the pendant, slide for dumb repeating at 4 o'clock.Signed on the movement and on the dust cap.Diam. 47mm, length 190 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 146-147.