The Art of American Horology Part ll,...

Roosevelt Hotel, Madison Avenue @ 45th Street, Dec 04, 2002

LOT 277

Susanna and the EldersWindmills, London, No. 8708. Hallmarked 1729-30.Very fine and important, pair-cased, 22K gold pocket watch with repousee case.

USD 8,000 - 10,000

C. stamped "WS", outer: case back repousee depicts Susanna being surprised while bathing by two old men, border with scrolling repousee. Inner: two-body, "bassine", polished. D. gold with champlevé Roman numerals, outer minute ring with five-minute Arabic markers in polished cartouches, whole on matted backgrounds, center with scrolling. "Beetle and Poker" blued steel hands. M. 38mm, frosted gilt full-plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain brass balance with flabalance spring, single-footed cock with a mask and almost straight foot, diamond endstone.Dial and movement signed.Diam. 52 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

SusannaThe wife of a prosperous merchant, she was surprised by two old men while bathing. The men threatened to publicly accuse her of adultery, for which the penalty was death, unless she gave herself to them. She refused and the men carried out their threat, whereby Susanna was sentenced to death. The following day, Daniel, one of the four greater prophets, interrogated the two men separately and obtained conflicting depositions, proving Susanna's innocence. Ultimately the two old men were put to deah. Susanna (lily in Hebrew), a symbol of purity, appears in early Christian as well as Jewish art.