CHARLES POLUZZI ' FOUR SIGNED ENAMEL PANELS Charles Poluzzi, Geneva. Made circa 1950. Four exquisite and unique painted on enamel on gold plaques. To be sold without reserve | Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 17, 2013

LOT 449

CHARLES POLUZZI ? FOUR SIGNED ENAMEL PANELS Charles Poluzzi, Geneva. Made circa 1950. Four exquisite and unique painted on enamel on gold plaques. To be sold without reserve

CHF 4,000 - 6,000

USD 4,500 - 6,500 / EUR 3,000 - 5,000

Sold: CHF 63,700

The largest 47 x 34 mm, ?Baigneures? after François Diday (1802-1877), depicting ladies bathing in an alpine lake near the wooded shore, opalescent sky ; the second, 38 x 3.5 mm, decorated with a variation of the same subject in portrait format ; the third, 36 x 29 mm, entitled ?Saule Pleureur?(weeping willow), a young man and his dog beneath the tree in an extensive landscape with opalescent sky ; the fourth, 36 x 29 mm, decorated with a Swiss lake view with opalescent sky. Each plaque signed ?Poluzzi? on the obverse. In exceptional condition, this group of delightful enamel plaques are by one of the greatest Geneva enamellists of the 20th Century, Charles Poluzzi. Each is enamelled on a gold plate and very finely painted with a landscape scene in the style of the early 19th century Geneva artists. Two of the plaques being after a composition by the celebrated Swiss artist François Diday. It is possible that these four plaques were made for exhibition purposes as a testament to Poluzzi?s skill as an enameller. Certainly it is highly unusual to find unmounted panels of this nature and of such great quality. The making of enamels such as these requires not only consumate ability as an artist but great technical prowess. Of particular note in the present panels is the use of translucent opalescent enamel to create the effect of a shimmering golden sunset. This would have required the gold plates to be first engine-turned to create the sunrays, then fired with translucent opalescent enamel, the painting was then done on top and fired again many times at very high temperatures until each color was applied. During each firing in the kiln the enamel is liable to be spoiled at any moment and therefore each finished piece is highly prized due not only its intrinsic value but the many days and weeks of work the artist devoted to their creation.

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CARLO (CHARLES) POLUZZI (1899-1978) Born in Seveso, Italy, he moved to Geneva with his family as a child. He specialized in painted on enamel portraits and landscapes, in the style of works from earlier periods. In 1914, Poluzzi became an apprentice at the ?Fabrique d?émaux de Genève?, while also pursuing studies at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He obtained his diploma in 1918 and became a ?chef d?atelier? during the next several years. In 1921, Poluzzi became naturalized, settled in Carouge, and set up his own workshop. Little by little, he became one of Geneva?s most respected enamel painters, working for all the important watch firms and painting the portraits of many important and influential people. He did some of his most noteworthy work for Rolex and Vacheron & Constantin.