The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 418

The ButterflyIlbery, London, No. 6135, enamel signed V. Dupont f(eci)t, circa 1818.Magnificent and extremely rare 18 ct. gold and enamel pearl-set centre seconds watch with a special escapement, made for the Chinese market.

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Sold: CHF 333,500

C. Three-body, 'Empire', the back scene framed by pearls is a superbly painted on enamel medallion with a young couple in neo-classical dress demonstrating the delicacy of a butterfly to an impatient child, pearl-set bezels, the band decorated with a geometrical champlevé, enamel pattern, pendant and bow decorated en suite, spring loaded gold hinged cuvette. D. White enamel, Roman chapters, outer minute and fifth-second divisions. Gold 'spoon' hands. M. 48.8 mmo, gilt brass, fully engraved 'Chinse' calibre, 5 jewels, standing barrel, ruby duplex escapement, plain five-arm steel balance, blued-steel balance spring, diamond endstone.Signed on the movement Ilbery, enamel signed V. Dupont f(eci)t.Diam. 59 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 306-307.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 18
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

It is rare to find watches with enamels signed by the artist.Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont (1785-1863)a highly reputed painter on enamel and porcelain. His work includes portraits of King George IV, Henry IV, H-B de Saussure, and others. He painted enamels for Ilbery, destined for the Oriental market. He is known for the beauty and elegance of his work, as well as for his distinctive palette, due to the fact that he mixed his own colours. The remarkable manner in which the figures in the foregrounds seem to advance, giving an impression of depth, is characteristic of his art. 'Dictionnaire des Hrlogers Genevois', by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.William Ilbery, London (ca. 1760-1839)Active in London from 1780 in Goswell Street, he moved to Duncan Terrace towards the end of the 18th century. Following James Cox in London and Jaquet-Droz in Switzerland, he also specialised in the production of luxury watches for the Chinese Market. His early production was very much in the English style featuring a full plate movement and an English type single wheel duplex escapement. However, for his highest quality watches, he incorporated a Peto cross detent escapement. Later, he used thestandard bridge calibre with free-standing barrel, also called the 'Chinese' calibre. The cases of his watches were sumptuously decorated by the best Genevan enamellers, such as Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont, who usually signed his work, and Jean-Louis Richter, who signed rarely. He seems to have maintained close contacts with the continental trade since a watch signed 'Ilbery Paris' is known and Ilbery Lot Son are recorded in London and Fleurier, as well as in Canton.