Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 31, 1998

LOT 369

Auguste Courvoisier, No. 51009, Swiss, made for Abdulmecid I, Pasha of the Ottoman Empire, circa 1840. Fine 18K gold and enamel hunting cased, watch, the cover painted with the enamel portrait of the Pasha.

CHF 28,000 - 32,000

C. Four body, massive, "bassine et filets", the band with champleve enamelled decoration and engraved in a vermicelli pattern, the enamel cover painted with a portrait of Abdulmecid Pasha, the border with pink and white champleve enamelled decoration, the back painted with trophies of science and astronomy over a pink flinque enamel ground, outer painted flowers and further champleve decoration. Hinged gold engine-turned cuvette engraved with technical details. D. White enamel with Turkish numerals and centred with painted musical trophies, gilt subsidiary seconds with inner painted flowers. Goldl fancy hands. M. Gilt brass, bar calibre, the bridges and going barrel engraved with foliage decoration, 13 jewels, counterpoised straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic balance, flat balance spring with regulator. Signed on the cuvette. Diam. 49 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 4-21

Fair

Period
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Abdulmecid or Abd ul Medjid (1823-1861), 31st Ottoman Sultan, who succeeded to his father Mahmoud in 1839, eight clays after the defeat of Nezib. He was protected by the European nations against the ambitions of the Egyptian Pacha. On 18 February 1856, he signed the Halt-i Houmaioun, which i mproved the condition of the Christians but suppressed with vigour the insurr ections in Albania, Syria, Bosnia and the Montenegro. Threatened by Russia, he was supported by France and England and as a result of the Guerre d'Orieol, Turkey was incorporated in the European concert, by means of the T-aite de Paris (30 March 1856). In 1860, the European nations had to be brought into Syria to help him fight the Druses. He was succeeded by his brother Abdul Aziz.