Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 67

Sophonisba. Rémond & Lamy Co, Geneva, circa 1810. Fine 18K gold and painted on enamel etui fitted with a vinaigrette.

CHF 4,000 - 6,000

EUR 2,600 - 3,900

Sold: CHF 9,200

C. Rectangular with two compartments, the center with an enamel panel painted with the scene of Sophonisba receiving the poison, gold frame, flanked by two portraits painted on an azure ground, black, white and azure champlevé enamel border, panel and the base in translucent imperial blue enamel over elaborate engine-turning, base with the border en suite to the lid. The right hinged panel opens revealing a vinaigrette compartment with a round translucent imperial blue enamel box decorated with gold paillons and the letters "D.Q." with a scent sponge, gold and enamel decoration on borders, the left panel when opened, reveals the etui.Punched with maker's mark inside of both lids.Dim. 95 x 32 x 14 mm.


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

Good
Case: 3 - 52
Movement: -
Dial: -

Notes

Sophonisba, the wife of a Numidian prince, persuaded her husband to reject Roman rule and to seek independence. He was captured by Masinissa, who delivered him to the Romans and married Sophonisba. The Roman general Scipio, fearing that Sophonisba would influence her new husband to disobey the Romans, demanded that Masinissa sens her to Rome. Masinissa instead sent his wife a choice, a poison or a knife. Jean-Georges Rémond (also Reymond). The son of Jean Rémond. Perhaps the best casemaker of his time, he was active from 1783 to approximately 1820. He became master goldsmith on December 22, 1783 and struck his first master mark. He became an "habitant" of Geneva in 1785. In 1790 he founded the company Georges Rémond & Cie. In 1792, the partners Joseph Guidon, Jean George Remond, David Gide, Laurent Guisseling and Jean Noël Lamy informally began working as Guidon Remond Gide & Co., (the company was officially registered on January 1, 1796). In 1809 the firm took on the name of Jean Georges Rémond et Compagnie, and had offices both in Geneva and Hanau. The partners were Jean George Remond, Jean Noël Lamy, Jean Boëhm, domicilié à Hanau, Denis Blondet, Laurent Guiseling , and Daniel Berton. In 1811, Jean George Remond, Jean Noël Lamy, Laurent Guisseling, Pierre Mercier and Daniel Berton formed a company known as Remond, Lamy, Mercier & Co."Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois" by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.