Important Watches, Collectors’ Wristw...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Nov 14, 2004

LOT 73

?Minerva? A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, No. 34387, circa 1895. Very fine and rare, 18K gold and niello, hunting-cased, first quality watch with case designed by Prof. Carl Ludwig Theodor Graff.

CHF 35,000 - 45,000

EUR 22,000 - 30,000 / USD 28,000 - 35,000

Sold: CHF 34,500

C. Four-body, ?demi-bassine?, Renaissance style, entirely engraved, central cartouche depicting Minerva with a plumed helmet, diadem and a necklace, surrounded by courting birds, cornucopias, flower ribbons and small repeated ribbon pattern, gold bow and the upper part of the pendant engraved, gold hinged cuvette, back cover with box-hinge, under the cuvette a glazed bezel to view the movement while protecting it from dust, numbered as the movement. D. White enamel, Arabic numerals with outer Arabic red minutes, subsidiary sunk seconds, ?spade? hands. M. 1st quality, 43 mm (19'''), gilt-brass, three-quarter plate, straight-line lever escapement, 19jewels, Lange?s bimetallic compensation balance, Breguet balance spring, gold escape wheel and pallet fork, jeweled to the center, back plate jewels in gold châtons, entire escapement with endstones, diamond over the upper balance pivot, Lange patented lever set design.Dial and movement signed, back cover stamped inside with Lange?s mark.Diam. 56 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 49
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

The following two lots feature allegorical case decoration created by Prof. Carl Ludwig Theodor Graff of the Dresden School of Applied Arts, who became director of the Dresden Art and Industry Museum in 1874. His design symbolizes the prosperity enjoyed by Germany under the rule of Kaiser Wilhelm II, German Emperor and King of Prussia from 1888 to the end of World War I in 1918. The Roman goddess Minerva, patroness of war, symbolizes strength. As the goddess of handicrafts, she is also a patron of the watchmaking art. The cornucopias are symbols of prosperity, and the courting birds symbolize freedom and fertility.