Important Watches, Collectors’ Wristw...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Nov 14, 2004

LOT 321

Alexander destroying the Persian Cavalry. Fromanteel, No 941, circa 1695, painting on enamel by Vauquer P(inxit), circa 1660. Very fine and rare, 20K gold and enamel watch.

CHF 10,000 - 20,000

EUR 6,500 - 13,000 / USD 8,000 - 16,000

C. Two-body, painted on both sides with battle scenes, the enamel plaque is by Robert Vauquer (1625-1670) who worked in Blois. The battle scene on the back is biblical, while that on the inside, painted en grisaille and signed, is of Alexander destroying the Persian Cavalry. The body of the gold case has two bands of foliate engraving and a swivel pendant. D. Gold, champlevé, Roman hour chapter ring with half-hour lozenges, outer minute ring with five-minute Arabic numerals. Blued-steel ?tulip? and ?poker? hands. M. 39 mm, gilt brass full plate, elaborate tulip pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, blued-steel flat balance spring, one-footed cock pierced and engraved in symmetrical scrolling foliage, flower blossom in the center, worm and wheel set-up, rack and pinion regulator with silver plate. Signed on the movement and the dial, the number engraved on the band in a special cartouche by the pendant. Enamel signed on the inside back.Diam. 46 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 6 - 56
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 6 - 01

Notes

ProvenancELord Sandberg Collection, published in the Sandberg book, pages 108-109. Dr. Hans Boeckh has established that the scenes derive from prints after engravings by Antonio Tempesta 1555-1630. The mastery of painting on enamel reached in France in the 17th Century was lost before the turn of the century. Owners treasured old cases, however the movements had become obsolete after the introduction of the balance spring in 1675. As a result, many Blois watch cases were either fitted with ?modern? movements or converted into snuff boxes, as is the case with this box, which around 1730 was made from very much appreciated mid seventeenth century watch case. Many backs and covers were preserved for their beauty alone. We have seen magnificent Blois cases with later movements by Webster, Leroux, Pyke, Fromanteel and Berthoud. The artistry and rarity of these cases unquestionably warranted the expense of commissioning a special movement for them. There is a record in Ferdinand Berthoud?s registers in the second half of the 18th century of a client who requested that an old enamel watch be fitted with a newer movement. The fact that Berthoud obliged the man demonstrates to what extent people treasured their fathers? enameled cases.