The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 87

Potrait of Sir Rajendra SinghMarcks & Co. Ltd., Bombay & Poona, Swiss, No. 973, enamel painting signed by John Graff, circa 1895.Very fine 18 ct. gold and enamel, hunting-cased, keyless watch with a chronograph and minute register, made for the Indian market.

CHF 10,000 - 15,000

USD 6,000 - 9,000

Sold: CHF 11,500

C. Four-body, solid, 'bassine et filets', both covers engine-turned, gold hinged cuvette with finely painted on enamel portrait, with the artist's initials, of Sir Rajendra Singh (1872-1900), who succeeded in 1876 as a minor and ruled as Maharadja of Patiala from 1890 until 1900. D. White enamel, Roman chapters, outer minute and fifth second divisions with five-minute Arabic numerals, subsidiary sunk seconds and 30-minute register dials. Blued-steel hands. M. 18''', 3/4 plate gilt brass, 17 jewes, straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued-steel Breguet balance spring, chronograph work under the dial, hands pin-set.Signed on the dial and movement, enamel signed by Graff.Diam. 52 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, page 354-355.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3 - 5 - 6*
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

John Graff (28 September 1836 - 17 March 1903)The most eminent enamel portrait miniaturist of the 19th century. Worked on portraits of the most noble European families, and also for China and India, painting enamel portraits on watch cases for Ferrero company.Signed:' J. Graff', 'J.G.' 'Graff'. His work is characterised by its great precision and sense of depth.'Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois', Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.