Important Collectors Wristwatches, P...
Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, May 13, 2007
LOT 681
"A Gift Between Maharajas" Barraud & Lunds, 41, Cornhill, London, No. 3/1260, the movement attributed to Nicole Nielsen. The case with London hallmarks for 1878. An important and impressive, large, minute-repeating, 18K gold, painted on enamel and rose-cut diamond-set, hunting cased, keyless pocket watch presented to the Maha Raj Lakshmiswar Singh Bahadur of Darbhanga by Maha Raj Krishna Pratap Sahee Bahadur of Hathua, on September 25, 1879, with the original long 18K gold fancy rope chain and fitted silver presentation casket.
CHF 38,000 - 48,000
EUR 25,000 - 30,000 / USD 30,000 - 40,000
Sold: CHF 42,480
C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", master mark HCD, polished, finely chased flower and leaf band, the spring loaded front cover with a rose-cut diamond-set spiral inscription "Presented to Maha Raj Lakshmiswar Singh Bahadur of Darbhanga on 25. Sept. 1879, by Maha Raj Krishna Pratap Sahee Bahadur of Hathua", central salmon crest, the interior decorated with a finely painted on enamel portrait miniature of Maha Raj Lakshmiswar Singh, the back cover with rose-cut diamond-set initials "LS". Hinged gold cuvette entirely engraved with leaves and flowers. Casket: two-body, silver, chased and engraved foliate decoration, four out-set twisted pillars with crown finials, carrying handles, hinged lid with salmon finial, the interior engraved "Souvenir Presented to Maha Raj Lakshmiswar Singh Bahadur of Darbhanga on the occaision of his attaining his majority and receiving his title from Government. By Maha Raj Krishna Pratap Sahee Bahadur of Hathua, as a mark of friendship and esteem". D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds at 9. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 46 mm., 21''', frosted gilt, three-quarter plate, jeweled in gold screwed chatons, lateral lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with gold screws, blued steel Breguet balance spring with double overcoil, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by a slide on the band. Dial and movement signed. Diam. 58 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 3-50 |
Good |
Movement: 3* |
Good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 2-01 |
Very good HANDS Original |
Notes
Maharaja Lakshmiswar Singh Bahadur Was born 25th September 1858, educated by an English tutor, served as a member of the legislative council of the viceroy with conspicuous ability and moderation of view. As representative of the landowners of Berar and Bengal he took an important part in the discussion on the Bengal Tenancy Bill. He died 17th December 1898.
Darbhanga A town and district of British India, in the Patna division of Bengal. The town is on the left bank of the Little Baghmati river, and has a railway station. Population in 1901 was 66,244. The town is a collection of villages that have grown up round the residence of the Maharaja. This is a magnificent palace, with gardens, a menagerie and a good library. The district of Darbhanga extends from the Nepal frontier to the Ganges. It was constituted in 1875 out of the unwieldy district of Tirhut. Founded by Mahamahopadhyaya Mahesh Thakur, a Rajput, who received the Darbhanga raj (which includes large parts of the modern districts of Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Monghyr, Purnea and Bhagalpur) from the emperor Akbar early in the 16th century. The Maharaja of Darbhanga is the titular head of the highest sub-caste of the Maithils, viz. the Srotriyas (those who could recite the Vedas from memory).