The Private Collection of Theodor Beyer

Hotel Baur Au Lac, Zurich, Nov 16, 2003

LOT 12

Jesus in the House of Lazarus. James Vautrollier Fecit, London, circa 1635. Very fine and very rare silver and vermeil savonette pre-balance spring, small single-hand pendant watch.

CHF 25,000 - 35,000

EUR 16,000 - 23,000 / USD 18,500 - 26,000

Sold: CHF 66,700

C. Two-body, front engraved with a scene depicting Christ in the house of Lazarus with his sister Mary anointing the feet of Jesus with oil and drying them with her hair (John, 12:2), the back with a scene of Christ in discussion with a Pharisee, the band with reclining nudes representing the four elements, tulip pendant, loose ring, small finial, gilt bezels engraved with repeated pattern. D. Silver ring with champlevé radial Roman numerals on gilt brass hinged dial plate engraved in the center with a scene depicting Christ at Jacob's well asking the Samaritan woman for a drink of water (John, 4:7), outer with foliate and floral pattern. Blued steel "fleur-de-lis" hand. M. 29 mm, gilt brass pinned to the dial plate, full plate, fusee and chain, short 3-wheel train, verge escapement, circular steel foliot, irregular pinned cock pierced and engraved with floral and foliate pattern, ratchet wheel set-up work with gilt brass clock pierced and engraved en suite to the cock.Signed on the movement.Diam. 33 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-14

Good

Damaged
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Provenance: Prince Soltykoff Collection, illustrated in his catalogue, Paris 1858, p. 96-97, and Fig. VIII. The Prince Soltykoff Collection was the most important 19th century collection. Such watches very seldom appear on the market.English watches from this period are very rare. This one, in particularly good condition and finely decorated, was chosen by F. J. Britten to exemplify the earliest English watches in his "Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers", 3rd Edition, London, 1911, p. 150. James Vautrollier. Probably a Huguenot refugee, he was recorded "without Temple Bar" in 1622; Lewes Cuper worked for him. In 1622 he was a petitioner to establish the Clockmakers Company. After the successful creation of the Company, he was one of its first Assistants. He had a number of apprentices who subsequently became well known watchmakers. In 1637 he took John Colson, who became Free in 1646, in 1639 he took William Dobbe, who became Free as a Brother in 1646, in 1641 he took Robert Wynne. Some of Vautrollier's works are preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and in the Guildhall Museum.