Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 1

The Virgin and St. Roch. Fr. Alibert a Paris, No. 40692, Geneva, 1840s, enamel attributed to Louis Dufaux père, made for the Italian market. Exceptional and very rare 18K gold and painted on enamel Neo-Gothic watch stand with a gold and enamel lady's pendant watch. Accompanied by a later fitted leather box.

Stand: In the form of a Neo-Gothic triptych, very richly decorated with repoussé, scrolling and stylized foliage formed with champlevé enamel, centered by a hinged and glazed compartment for a small pendant watch, enamel cartouches with the Virgin at the left and St. Roch at the right, side panels painted on enamel with two Palladian palaces, a winged cherub's mask painted on enamel, the base with three painted on enamel panels. Left, a river scene, right a palace, center, a bouquet of flowers, matte top of the base decorated with repoussé scrolling covered with champlevé, engine-turned gold back panel, with rosette and fleur-de-lis. C. Four-body, "bassine", back very finely chased and champlevé enameled with foliage and flowers on black enamel background, florally chased bezels, twisted-rope band, gold hinged cuvette. D. Silver, engine-turned with radial Roman numerals. Gold Breguet hands. M. 20.3 mm (9'''), frosted gilt, early bar caliber, cylinder escapement, three-arm gilt balace with flat balance spring.Watch signed on the cuvette.Dim. Height 190 mm, width 120 mm. Watch diam. 25 mm.