Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 116

Venus and Mars. Case painted on enamel and signed by the frères Huaud, movement by Vollenhove, Amsterdam, circa 1690. Very fine and rare 20K gold and painted on enamel single-hand pendant watch.

CHF 20,000 - 30,000

EUR 13,000 - 19,500

Sold: CHF 25,300

C. Two-body, “bassine”, back very finely painted on enamel, in the pointillistic technique, with a scene depicting Venus and Mars with Cupid, four vignettes painted with rural landscapes after engravings by Gabriel Perelle, the inside finely painted with a traveler among ruins, engraved spit bezel. D. White enamel on gold, wide chapter ring with bold radial Roman numerals and half-hour marks, center painted with Venus and Mars. Single brass hand. M. 33 mm, hinged, frosted gilt full plate with baluster pillars, fusee and chain, endless screw mainspring set-up, four-wheel train, verge escapement, steel balance with flat balance spring, continental Dutch style cock.Signed on the movement, case signed “Les deux frères Huaut P.d.S.A.E.B. a Berlin” (peintres de Son Altesse Electeur de Brandebourg à Berlin).Diam. 40 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 41
Movement: 3 - 17*
Dial: 3 - 24 - 05

Notes

This watch is pictured in “Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers” by Britten, p. 184, Fig. 242.The movement of the present watch is original; it was transformed around mid-18th century from back to front winding, which explains the presence of a winding hole on the dial. It was this transformation which probably caused the chip to the dial; the restoration no doubt dates from that period. The mechanism, with its single hand, remains otherwise intact.For another watch by Vollenhove with high-tide indications see Antiquorum, April 1998.