Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Hong-kong, Jun 08, 2002

LOT 407

Mars and VenusEnamel painting Blois School, circa 1650, movement by Gossier A Rouen, No. 802, circa 1750.Very fine 20K gold and painted on enamel early pen-dant watch.

C. Double-body, "bassine fermée" with curved band, entirely painted on enamel, the principal scene on the back depicting Mars and Venus after an engraving by Michel Dorigny (1617-1655), from a painting by Simon Vouet (1590-1649). Venus' affair with the god of war was revealed by Apollo to her husband Vulcan who enmeshed the lovers in an invisible net. Allegorically, Mars and Venus can be seen to represent Beauty and Valor, or the vanquishing of strife by Love. The cover depicts the Judgement ofaris. Paris is seated, disguised as a shepherd, and Mercury, holding a caduceus, is seen passing the apple to Venus. The losers, Juno and Minerva, stand to one side, and Venus' modesty is secured by Cupid. The enamel inside the cover has a house in the foreground and a river with a small bridge in the background, the scene inside the back is painted with figures and houses in a landscape, with a town in the background, the band decorated with a continuous riverside town scene. D. White enamel, Rman hour chapters alternating with gilded trefoils, Arabic minute numerals. Gold "Louis XV" hands. M. 36.2 mm. ø, hinged, gilt brass full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain for the going train, verge escapement, plain three-arm brass balance, blued-steel balance spring, pierced and engraved continental cock, rack and pinion regulator with silver plate.Signed on the movement.Dim. 45 mm.