The Art of American Horology & Colle...

New York, Nov 28, 2001

LOT 398

Julien LeRoy, Paris, probably Freiberg, "Zephyr and Flora", circa 1770.Fine, 18K gold and enamel, triple-cased quarter-repeating watch with tactile option.

C. outer: two-body, gilt brass, glazed back, shagreen-covered bezels with gilt brass studs. Middle: two-body, gold, back finely painted with Zephyr and Flora, Zephyr in front of a storm cloud, Flora holding a garland of flowers, bezels decorated with "rocailles" and enameled flowers. Inner: two-body, gold, "bassine" with deep back, band pierced and engraved with stylized foliage, polished back with small rosette in the center, gilt brass dust cup. D. white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute rig with five-minute Arabic markers. Gold "Louis XV" hands. M. 33 mm, gilt full-plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain brass balance with flat balance-spring, single-footed cock with ruby endstone, rack and pinion regulator with silver plate, repeating on gongs by depressing the pendant.Movement and dust cup signed. Diam. 54 mm.According to Ovid, Zephyr-The West Wind-saw the nymph Chloris, fell hopelessly in love with her, ravished her, and finally married her. He made her ruler over the kingdom of flowers, thus she became known as Flora.