Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Jun 14, 2003

LOT 152

The Muses of Dance Theremin, Swiss, circa 1820. Very fine 18K gold and painted enamel box fitted with a watch and a secret compartment.

C. Two-body, hinged, rectangular with canted corners, top cover painted with the Muses Terpsichore and Erato, dancing on either side of an inset oval watch, the former playing a lyre, the latter a tambourine, champlevé azure ground, white enamel frame with repeated gold pattern, side panels and base in matching decoration, the base has a secret compartment containing a gold tray with four loose gold discs, each enameled with a different playing card symbol. D. Oval, white enamel, Arabic hour chpter, outer minute dot divisions with fifteen-minute Arabic numerals. Gold paste-set hands. M. 17 x 27 mm. (7 1/2''' x 12'''), oval, gilt, hinged, cylinder escapement, plain brass balance, flat balance spring, brass escape wheel with round impulse pins making the lift almost entirely on the balance staff lips, motor barrel.Signed on the dial.Dim. 75 x 38 x 19 mm.Published in the Sandberg book, pp. 466-467.