Exceptional Horological Sale Celebrat...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Geneva, Apr 24, 2004

LOT 123

The Judgment of Paris "Les deux frères Huaut, les jeunes", circa 1680, movement by Jan Henkels, Amsterdam, circa 1760. Exceptionally fine and very rare 20K gold and painted on enamel pendant watch.

CHF 10,000 - 20,000

EUR 6,300 - 12,600 / USD 7,800 - 15,600

Sold: CHF 13,800

C. Two-body, "bassine", very finely painted on enamel with a scene depicting the judgment of Paris from an engraving by Antoine de Fer after Laurent de la Hyre with the three goddesses to the left, Hermes and Paris to the right, inside a landscape with ruins and a man playing the flute, band with landscape vignettes.D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer arcaded minute ring with five-minute Arabic markers, winding aperture at 3 o?clock. Blued steel "beetle and poker" hands.M. 35 mm, hinged, frosted gilt full-plate with square baluster pillars, fusee and chain, cylinder escapement with brass escape wheel, steel balance with flat balance spring, continental cock.Signed on the movement, case signed Huaud. Diam. 41 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 54
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-13-24-01

Good

Slightly damaged

Slightly chipped

HANDS Original

Notes

A virtually identical case, signed "Les deux frere Huaud l?on faite", is in the Louvre Collection (Inv OA 8326). For the biography of the Huaut Frères and a discussion of the importance of these cases, see previous lot. Jan Henkels Was active between 1742 and 1772. In a 1767 directory he is listed as being on the Heiligeweg. He was a very able maker, making watches and clocks, including complicated musical and automaton clocks. The Judgment of Paris For the wedding feast of Thetis and Peleus, all the gods were invited but Eris, Offended and angry, Eris came anyway and tossed an apple among the guests saying that it was "for the most beautiful". Of the goddesses Juno, Minerva and Venus, each believed that the apple should be for her. Refusing to take sides, Jupiter decided that the first mortal to arrive would make the decision. This happened to be Paris, a son of the king of Troy. Hoping to influence his decision, each of the goddesses promised him a present: Minerva offered wisdom; Juno, power; and Venus promised him the most beautiful woman in the world. Young Paris gave the apple to Venus, an act which was to lead to the Trojan War. The scene of the "Judgment of Paris" is one of the most popular mythological subjects to be depicted in art.