Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Oct 13, 2001

LOT 481

"Keramikos" UrnThomas Grignion, Covent Garden, London, No. 1686, casemaker's master mark "HT", circa 1775.Very fine and rare 22K gold, gilt brass, and enamel pair-cased, half quarter-repeating on a bell or dumb, chatelaine watch.

C. Outer: two-body, the back centered with an urn in translucent imperial blue champlevé enamel, reflecting the influence during the late 18th century of the art of the ancient Greek "Keramikos", surrounded by a slim white enamel frame and blue and white enamel decoration, the bezels pierced and decorated with a blue and white enamel pattern. Inner: two-body, "bassine", the band pierced and engraved in a foliate pattern, the back engraved with an exotic bird below a stylized foliate branch, silvr dust-cap. Four-panel gold and gilt brass chatelaine, the panels decorated with translucent blue champlevé enamel rosettes and urns similar to the one on the back cover, four enameled chains with rock crystal and perfume container set in gold, a gold and enamel crank key, gold flask, and rock crystal set in gold and enamel egg-shaped salts container. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, five-minute Arabic markers. Blued steel "beetle and poker" hands. M. 30 mm, mounted to thhinged dial plate, gilt full plate with cylindrical baluster pillars, fusee and chain, jeweled cylinder escapement with steel escape wheel, plain steel balance with flat balance-spring, single-footed cock with diamond endstone, repeating by depressing the pendant.Signed on the dial, movement and dust cap.Diam. 48 mm.A similar watch is in the Guildhall Museum.Thomas Grignion (1713-1784)The son of Daniel, also a watchmaker, was a reputed maker best known for having improved the cylinder escapement.