Collector's Pocket Watches, Wristwatc...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 12, 2003

LOT 492

Venus and AdonisHuaud Le puisné fecit, Genève, made probably by Abraham Arlaud I for the Turkish or Persian market, circa 1675.Exceptional and historically important painted on enamel 20K gold single-hand prebalance spring pendant watch with outer protective case, and very early and well done convertion for two hands and balance spring.

CHF 50,000 - 60,000

EUR 35,000 - 42,000 / USD 37,000 - 44,000

Sold: CHF 57,500

C. Two-body, "bassine", deep back with inward edges, back finely painted on enamel depicting Venus reclining on a bed, Adonis behind her, the band with four painted vignettes each with a different house in an Alpine setting. Inside ruins with a passing traveler, inspired by an engraving by Gabriel Perelle (1603 - 1677), gold bezel engraved with repeated pattern. Protective: two-body, gilt brass, leather covered with silver and gold studs forming flower pattern. D. White enamel, large ring withadial Roman numerals and half hour indexes, center finely painted with Venus and Adonis. Gilt fleur-de-lis hands. M. 32 mm., hinged, gilt brass, full plate entirely engraved with small flowers and foliage, elaborate pierced pillars, fusee and chain, short three-wheel train with six-leaf pinions, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance, symmetrically pierced and engraved silver cock secured by a screw, ratchet wheel and click for set-up with a scale in Islamic numerals on a silver disc.Signed on the movement with Arabic characters, case signed "Huaud Le puisné fecit".Diam. 39 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3
Movement: 3
Dial: 3 - 19 - 05

Notes

This is one of the earliest watch cases painted by Jean-Pierre Huaud and one of few surviving works in such exceptional condition, it is also an extremely important piece because it is the only watch known today painted in enamel by the early Genevois artists and destined for the Islamic market.It is clear this movement was made in Geneva. There are several indications of this: first, the extreme sophistication of the movement, for which Genevese watchmakers were famous; secondly, the movement features elements common to other Genevese watches, very unusual pillars and a typical manner of finishing the wheels and the fusee, as well as the characteristic shape of the cock. These same elements can be seen in lot 256 made by Isaac Perrot and lot 264, made by Jean and Jacques Rousseau in te Sandberg Watch Collection catalogue, Geneva March 31 - April 1, 2001.An almost identical watch, signed by Arlaud, and also made for the Islamic market, is in the Musée International de l'horlogerie, Château des Monts, La Chaux-de-Fonds, inv. No. 1-555.Huaud.The best known and most prolific family of enamel painters of their day. They descended from a family of goldsmiths in Châtellerault, France. Their father Pierre Huaud I (1612 -1680) was a protestant who emigrated to Geneva, where he became a "habitant" in 1630. He finished his apprenticeship as a goldsmith with Laurent Légaré in 1634, and soon after became Master goldsmith. In 1661 he served an apprenticeship with Jean André in enamel painting. His three sons became enamel painters as well. Piere II (1647 - c.1698) was apprenticed to his father. In 1685/6 he went to Berlin to work in the service of the Brandenburg Elector. After a brief stay there, he returned to Geneva in 1686. Pierre II went back to Germany at the end of 1689, and in 1691he was named painter-miniaturist to Frederick I.Jean-Pierre (1655 -1723) and his brother Ami (1657-1724) became partners from 1682 to 1688. As was their older brother, they were also appointed painters to the Court of the Brandenburg Elector in 1686, and went to Berlin where they lived and worked until 1700, at which point they returned to Geneva. Some of the work, as the present watch demonstrates, were made individually, they worked in partnership but also often alone. Their work was sought after by watchmakers from all over Europe. They wold order a case from them and then build a watch to fit it. After the invention of the balance spring in 1675, when the old movements became obsolete, their cases were still cherished to the point that many owners of these cases would order new balance spring movements for them.