Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 13, 2012

LOT 240

CLARKE & GREEN - GRAPES FROM THE VINE Clarke & Green, Cheapside (London), No. 1712. Made circa 1790. Extremely fine and rare, 18K gold, Geneva painted on enamel and diamond-set pocket watch.

CHF 7,000 - 9,000

USD 7,600 - 10,000 / EUR 5,800 - 7,500

Sold: CHF 11,250

C. Two-body, bassine, the back set with a very fi nely painted Geneva enamel of a young boy and girl, the boy carrying bunches of grapes and vine leaves to his left, old-cut diamond-set border and royal blue and white enamel line outer border, the bezel set with diamonds and with enamel border to match the back, old-cut diamond-set pendant and bow, concealed hinge, the bezel released by depressing the pendant. D. White enamel with radial Arabic numerals, outer dot minute divisions, winding aperture above 6. Fine gold and silver fl eurde- lis hands set with diamonds. M. 32 mm, matte gilt, full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, three-arm steel balance, fl at balance spring, single footed cock fi nely engraved with foliage and pierced with a neoclassical pattern, diamond endstone, silver regulation dial. Movement signed. Diam. 44 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2-24

Very good

Slightly chipped
Movement: 2*

Very good

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

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

This exquisitely decorated watch has survived in remarkably good condition. The watch is of very high quality with great attention paid to the fi nish throughout. The case is lavishly set with diamonds set in silver and the enamel is both charming and painted with great skill. This scene derives from English genre paintings by artists such as William Hamilton, Francis Wheatley and William Redmore Bigg who specialised in images of romanticised English rural life in the last quarter of the 18th Century. Their paintings were engraved and sold as prints which were published by Francesco Bartolozzi, Burke and others. These genre prints were enormously popular and were used as models for many Geneva enamelers, including Jean Louis Richter. The fi ne dial has a winding aperture lined in gold and hands made of gold with silver tops set with diamonds, high grade English movement with diamond endstone.