The Private Collection of Theodor Beyer

Hotel Baur Au Lac, Zurich, Nov 16, 2003

LOT 76

Paul Jeannot, Genève, No. 1917- 1644, Cairo circa 1880, retailed by Antonio Veronesi. Very fine, 18K gold hunting-cased keyless double-face astronomical watch with date, days of the week and phases of the moon, made for the Egyptian market.

CHF 10,000 - 12,000

EUR 6,500 - 7,800

C. Five-body, "bassine et filets", polished with applied gold crown on the front cover. D. Gold with radial Islamic numerals, outer minute dot divisions, center with aperture for phases of the moon and sector for its age, below applied multicolored gold floral decoration, same on the outermost, subsidiary sunk seconds. Blued steel "spade" hands. Reverse with enamel ring with inner days of the week scale in Islamic characters, outermost date also in Islamic characters. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 42.8 mm (19'''), nickel, 15 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring.Punched with maker's mark inside each cover.Diam. 54 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-14-01

Good

Damaged

HANDS Original

Notes

He was a maker of very high quality Grandes Complications. Specialized in watches for Spain and South American Market, went into partnership with Paul Perret making pocket chronometers. Patented a number of improvements in watches, among them a mechanism for independent seconds 1889, chronograph 1892, special pin-setting mechanism 1891..Dictionnaire des Horlogers Genevois by Osvaldo Patrizzi, Antiquorum Editions, Geneva, 1998.This watch, which dates from circa 1880, was the property in 1946 of Major Soliman El-Faransawi, descendant of an important and colorful historical figure, Soliman Pasha.Joseph François Anthelme Sève 1788-1860, Soliman PashaBorn in Lyon, he rose from modest beginnings, becoming a sailor, then a soldier, and fought in the battle of Waterloo. In 1819 Sève traveled to Egypt and on the recommendation of the Comte de Ségur, he presented himself to Mehemet Ali, the Vice-Roy of Egypt. When a school of Infantry was created, he was made instructor, and colonel in the Egyptian army. In 1824 he was made Bey, and in 1833 Pasha and generalissimo of the Egyptian army. Joseph Sève became so acclimated to his new home that he converted to Islam. Soliman El Faransawi the Frenchman, or Soliman Pasha, as he became known, was put in charge of the development of the army. In France, King Louis Philippe made him "Grand Officier de la Légion d'Honneur". He married and had three children. His great-granddaughter was Queen azli, the wife of Fuad I and the mother of King Faruk I.