Important Jewelry, Watches and Wristw...

Hong Kong, Furama Hotel, Jun 07, 1999

LOT 570

Recordon & Dupont, London, attributed to Jaquet- Droz workshop, made for the Imperial Chinese Court, circa 1785. Magnificent 18K gold and enamel musical snuff-box with a centre-seconds watch.

HKD 210,000 - 280,000

USD 30,000 - 40,000

Sold: HKD 437,000

C. Three body, fully enamelled with powder blue and paillonne formal decoration in a striped pattern, the borders with paillonne floral garlands over a blue ground, the twelve sided band including four panels of blue enamel within white frames decorated with paillonne altars and doves symbolising Love and Fidelity, the bottom panel centred with a painted pastoral scene depicting a young musician, assisted by Cupid, charming a maiden and opening to reveal a shallow snuff compartment enamelled with a bouquet of Summer flowers on a brown ground within grey and paillonne decorated border. The gold panel with French style prestige marks and engraved: Taken from the Summer Palace, Peking, 8 October 1860. N.S. The watch inset on the lid with a paillonne decorated bezel. Hinged gilt brass cuvette. D. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer minutes and seconds ring. Gold pierced hands. M. gilt brass with hinged cuvette, drawn from the Lepine calibre with free standing barrels engraved with scrolled foliage. Cylinder escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring with regulator. Carillon gilt brass, shaped, skeletonised, fusee with chain, pin-drum with five hammers playing on five bells. Dim. 85 x 61 x 38 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 22

Later original
Movement: *3

Good

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

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Originating from an old family of Sainte-Croix watchmakers, later working in Geneva, Louis Recordon established his company in London as of 1778 where he succeeded to Emery in Cockpur Street. In partnership with Charles Dupont, who also came from Geneva, he settled with him in Tottenham Court Road and specialised in the trade of watches and clocks for the Chinese Market. In 1782 he began to trade with Jaquet-Droz and Henry Maillardet who was in charge of his workshop in London. Although the cuvette is signed Recordon & Dupont, the layout of the movement and the carillon indicate an attribution of this box to the workshop of JaquetDroz, the leading specialist in such pieces at the time. The lack of pearls on the case, the early style of enamelling making dramatic use of paillons, and the unusual shape, all point to an early date. This is further supported by the prestige French marks frequently found on Swiss boxes from the last quarter of the 18th century. The inscription inside the box refers to the sacking of the Emperor's Summer Palace on 8th October 1860, during the second China War. Despite the conclusion of the treaty of Tientsin, with the ascent of the Emperor in 1859, the delegation proceeding to Peking to ratify the agreement, was fired upon from the Taku Forts at the mouth of the Peiho River. Hostilities were renewed and the convention was finally concluded following the defeat of the Tartar troops and the sacking of the Palace. This box, along with other "portable" treasures, was evidently taken at the time, although the identity of the acquirer "N.S." is not known.