Exceptional horologic works of art

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Oct 11, 2003

LOT 93

James Cox, London, circa 1770, made for the Chinese market. Exceptional and probably unique 18K gold, silver, gilt and agate portable lamp, mirror compartment fitted with a watch with visible balance.

CHF 100,000 - 150,000

EUR 65,000 - 98,000

Sold: CHF 113,500

C. Octagonal body made of 8 panels of white -striated red agate set in a repoussé gold frame with fruits and flowers, one of the panels fitted with a watch with ruby-set bezel, agate base terminated in hinged mirror compartment, the top with spring-loaded oil lamp in bell-shaped glass cover, silver reflection mirror on one side and pierced and engraved hinged gold cover. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute dot divisions with five-minute Arabic markers, winding aperture at 9 o'clock. Gold "beetle and poker" hands. M. Set on a rectangular base, 45 x 24 mm, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, gilt straight-line train with the escapement outside the main plate allowing for the visibility of the balance, cylinder escapement with brass escape wheel, three-arm brass balance with flat balance spring.Signed on the dial.Dim. Height 15 cm, base diam. 7 cm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 12 - 23 - 01

Notes

This is the only known lamp made by James Cox, the indisputable master of luxury objects at the time. It was certainly an excellent idea at the time to associate a watch with a source of light, yet one had to deal with the problem of the heat generated. Cox isolated the watch movement from the heat source by means of three concentric cylinders, assuring that practically no heat reaches the movement. To allow easy lighting of the lamp, whose wick is contained within a glass bell under a gold dome, the cover was spring-loaded. When the cover is lowered, the wick appears above the top opening, allowing it to be quickly and easily lit. The movement has an unusual layout and employs a fusee with cylinder escapement, an arrangement found only in the best pieces.