Thematic Auction in Geneva:The Evolut...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Nov 16, 2002

LOT 19

La Sainte Famille á l'oiseauSalomon Plairas a Blois, circa 1640.Extremely fine and equally rare large 20K gold and painted on enamel "fermée" type pre balance spring, single-hand pendant watch.

CHF 0 - 0

EUR 0 - 0

Sold: CHF 443,500

C. Two-body, "bassine" with deep back and curved-in edge, the front cover finely painted with the Virgin, the Child, and St. John the Baptist, the back with the Virgin and Child and St. Joseph with a nightingale sitting on Jesus' finger, rural background painted after Simon Vouet's "La Sainte Famille á l'oiseau". Inside front cover the Annunciation, inside back cover a landscape, the band with continuous landscape with travelers, river with a large boat. D. Radial Roman numerals painted on whiteenamel ring, half-hour divisions, center painted with a landscape. Gilt brass "tulip" hand. M. Gilt brass, full plate, column pillars, fusee and cat gut, verge escapement, circular foliot, irregular pierced and engraved cock secured by a screw, worm and wheel mainspring set-up.Signed on the back plate.Diam. 59 mm


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 51
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 21 - 01

Notes

Provenance: Schloss CollectionMaurice Sternberger Collection, sold Christie's, London, 1937H. Marryat collectionTime Museum, inv. No. A673Exhibited: Metropolitan Museum, New York, before 1937Time Museum, Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A.Salomon Plairas (Playras) Blois.Born in 1605, the son of Charles Plairas, whose children became watchmakers and goldsmiths both in France and abroad. Salomon was established as a Master in Blois before 1630, and enjoyed a long career, his death being recorded in 1684.The pastel colors and distinctly white background of the enamel decoration on the case of this watch confirm it as being a particularly early example of the technique of painting "on enamel in enamel". Nearly contemporary records claim that the technique dated from 1627, but it seems likely that the first watches appeared a few years earlier. This example can certainly be counted amongst those early survivors, and is particularly notable on account of its large size.Literature:E.Develle, "Les Horlogers Blesois", Blois, 1917, p. 380.F.J. Britten, "Old Clocks & Watches", London, 1932, 6th ed. (and earlier) p.187, figs 241 - 243.H. Marryat, "Watches", London, 1938, vol 1, item E3, p.50, ill. 50,51.Clutton & Daniels, "Watches", London, 1965 (and later), color frontispiece and dust jacket.