Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 18, 1998

LOT 167

J. Barberet Paris, circa 1615. Very fine and rare gilt-brass pre-balance spring watch, richly decorated with silver in damascened work.

CHF 50,000 - 60,000

Sold: CHF 59,800

C. Three body oval with gilt-brass pendant, finials and hinges, with overlaid silver panels entirely engraved. The cover with a scene featuring Venus and Adonis framed within a frieze of foliage inhabited by a winged angel, chimeras and rabbits at the base. The back decorated ensuite, the mythological scene depicting Leandre and Hera. The silver band around the frame of the watch engraved with flowers, foliage and rabbits. All the silver panels are enclosed by edges of gilt metal. The inside of the lid and the back, each lightly engraved with an oval wreath of laurel. D. Giltbrass with Roman chapter ring, finely engraved with foliage, a figure of Venus above the dial, a figure of Leda with the swan below, while in the centre of the dial ring is a landscape with houses. Blued-steel single hand. M. Gilt-brass full plate with urn pillars, fusee with gut line, verge escapement, two-arm balance without spring, irregular foliage pierced gilt-brass cock secured by a pin, ratchet-and-wheel set-up regulator matching with blued-steel ratchet wheel and spring. Signed on the back plate. Dim. 65 x 35 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 7

Oxidized
Movement: *4

Fair

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-51

Very good

Partially reprinted

Notes

A similar watch by Girard a Bloye was sold by Auliquoruin on October 1994. Watches by the same maker are found in the Paul Gamier Collection (Musee du Louvre in Paris), the Gelis collection in Toulouse and the Marfel Collection. Leandre Greek mythological figure loved Hera and every evening had to swim across the Hesselpont to join her, only guided by a lamp that she lit at the top of a tower. A night, the lamp was blown out by a storm and Leandre drowned and Hera through herself in the water to save him. Leda and the swan A Greek myth tells how Leda, the wife of Tynclareus, King of Sparta, was loved by Jupiter. Ile came to her by the river in the form of a swan and lay with her. As a result of their union she laid one or perhaps two eggs, from which were hatched the heavenly the twins Castor of Pollux.