Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Jun 14, 2003

LOT 236

Danaë and the Golden Rain James Wightman, London, circa 1680, case attributed to Pierre II Huaud. Fine gold and painted on enamel single hand prebalance spring watch.

CHF 20,000 - 25,000

EUR 13,000 - 17,000 / USD 16,000 - 19,000

C. Two-body, "bassine" with curved edge, painted on enamel with a nude, reclining Danaë in the foregroundand a servant in the background, as golden rain falls from the sky, the inside painted with lakeside ruins and a passing traveler, four vignettes on the band with rural landscapes. D. Enamel on gold, radial Roman hour chapter on white enamel ring, the center painted on enamel depicting Diana and her dog. Blued steel "poker" hand. M. 32.7 mm. hinged, fusee and cat-gut, short four-wheel train (incl. fusee), circular steel foliot, irregular pierced and engraved cock, ratchet-wheel mainspring set-upwith pierced and engraved gilt brass elaborate click.Signed on the back plate.Diam. 34 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3 - 22
Movement: 3 - 22*
Dial: 3 - 32 - 01

Notes

James Wightman At the end of the 17th century there were two known watchmakers named Wightman, John and William. John was apprenticed to Jonathan Jones in 1688 and free in 1696; William was apprenticed to the famous Joseph Windmills from 1686 to 1694. It is conceivable that James was the father of one, or both of them. Danaë and Jupiter When Acrisius, king of Argos, learned from an oracle that his grandson would dethrone him, he had his only daughter Danaë imprisoned in a tower. Jupiter transformed himself into a shower of gold and impregnated Danaë, who gave birth to Perseus. Acrisius refused to believe in divine intervention and locked the mother and the child in a chest which he cast into the sea. Danaë and Perseus are often considered to be the Greek counterpart to the immaculate conception.