Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong,the Ritz Carlton Hotel,harbour Room, 3rd Floor, Jun 02, 2007

LOT 315

"The Agate Flask" Lépine a Paris. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1770. Very rare and important, gold and dendritic ?moss agate? scent flask fitted with a very small clockwatch movement.

HKD 350,000 - 450,000

USD 45,000 - 60,000 / EUR 35,000 - 45,000

Sold: HKD 436,600

C. Pear-shaped flask mounted with polished panels of dendritic ?moss agate?, foil backed with silver, engraved gold framework and neck, the foot with a hinged cover set with an agate panel forming a compartment to hold the key, stopper with a colored gem-set pinecone finial, secured by a chain to the neck ofthe flask. D. White enamel dial with radial Roman numerals, Arabic five minute markers. Rose diamond-set hands. M. 21 mm., frosted gilt, tapering cylindrical pillars, two springbarrels, cylinder escapement, three-arm balance, flat balance spring, striking the hours on a bell, mounted in a drum case with pierced and engraved sound-fret. The bell scratched-signed "Drury". Dim. 127 x 60 x 19 mm. Property of an Israeli Collector


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-44-49

Good

Worn pushpiece(s)

Service case
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Scent flasks incorporating clockwatches are very rare and the present flask has a particularly small striking movement. A French made example is very unusual because most of the flasks to survive from the 18th century are of English manufacture. The celebrated maker of mechanical curiousities and objets d'art, James Cox (circa 1723-1800) is the name most associated with these pieces. In Switzerland, the famous workshop of Jaquet Droz produced a small number of flasks which are of superb quality. Dendritic agate, more comonly known as "moss agate" is chalcedony containing visible impurities in the form of dendrite shapes that resemble moss. Pieces with a good "moss" formation are highly regarded. To make the present flask, pieces of matched color and formation have been used, creating a wonderful example of the combined talents of the watchmaker, jeweler and lapidary.