Important Collectors Wristwatches, Po...

Geneva, Nov 14, 2009

LOT 348

Cloisonne Dial - St. George and the Dragon Universal Genève, case No. 1686482, Ref. 112184. Made circa 1952-1955. Very fine and probably unique, 18K pink gold wristwatch with cloisonné enamel dial featuring St. George and the Dragon.

CHF 10,000 - 15,000

USD 10,000 - 15,000 / EUR 6,700 - 10,000

Sold: CHF 42,000

C. Three-body, solid, polished and brushed, inclined bezel, angled lapidated lugs. D. Bombe polychrome cloisonné enamel on gold, with counter enamel, representing St. George and the Dragon on a trompe l?oeil craquelure ground in the manner of an antique plate, surrounded by a pink gold reserve with engraved hour indexes. Pink gold dauphine hands. M. Cal. 262, rhodium plated, 17 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating flat balance spring, index regulator. Case and movement signed. Diam. 36 mm. Thickness 10 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The art and the style In most iconography, Saint George is depicted with a lance; on the present watch he wields a sword. The decorative style is particularly rich and most probably reproduces a medieval plate, in the oriental manner, and possibly inspired by the stained glass window of an Orthodox church. The mixture of cloisonné and miniature techniques in this enamel is quite unusual and in this particular case, very successful.
This dial was probably ordered by one of Stern Frères' competitors (possibly Beyeler or Singer). Furthermore, the lack of inscription on the back does not allow an artist attribution. Nevertheless the work is of an extremely good quality and typical of the Geneva manner of the early 1950's.
St. George & the Dragon The most famous of the St. George legends is the slaying the dragon. St. George is the patron saint of England, however an image of him slaying the dragon is also incorporated into the Russian Imperial arms. In the Middle Ages the dragon often represented the devil. The first recorded story of St. George and the dragon is from the 12th century.
A drawing, circa 1950, of a scene showing St. George and the Dragon, Stern Frères. Note that St. George is holding a lance. Stern Frères archives. Photo courtesy of TheSource- TECHdata
Here, for purposes of comparison, a typical Orthodox icon showing a traditional representation of St. George.