Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 18, 1998

LOT 196

Geneva or Berlin, the case enamelled by Les deux Freres Huaud les felines, circa 1686. "Atalanta and Meleager" Very fine and rare, 20K gold and enamel, pair-cased, early balance spring watch.

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

C. Double body, "bassine", the split bezel engraved with foliage decoration, the back painted on all surfaces with polychrome colours, the back with a scene depicting "Meleager and Atalanta, the head of the boar on her knees" after a painting from the period, the band with landscape vignettes, framed in sepia and yellow and interspersed with blue panels decorated with ribbon scrolls, signed at 6 o'clock in a cartouche: Les deux Freres Humid les felines , interior with a ruin in classical landscape after Gabriel Perelle. Outer shagreen covered protecting case with gold pique-work foliage decoration. D. White enamel with Roman chapters and half hour divisions, the centre painted with a scene depicting the death of Cleopatra. Single gilt-brass hand. M. Hinged gilt-brass full plate with pierced Egyptian pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain three-arm steel balance with rack and pinion regulator, short early balance spring, gilt-brass Louis XIV cock pierced and engraved in four separated openwork sectors allowing the balance spring to be seen. Delicate blued-steel spring and click for the ratchet wheel set-up with pierced blued- steel brackets. Signed on case. Diam. 46 mm.


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Grading System
Case: 24

Slightly chipped
Movement: *4

Fair

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 22-51

Later original

Partially reprinted

Notes

The scene depicted on the back of this watch is tin allegory drawn from the Illiad (9: 430-605) and Met (8: 260-546). In Greek mythology the son of a king of Calydon, a city of Aetolia. His father had offended the goddess Diana who sent a wild boar to ravage the countryside, and Maleager with a band of companions set out to hunt it. First to wound it was Atalanta, the virgin huntress whom Meleager loved. When the beast was finally killed, Meleager presented her with the head and pelt. Huaud Freres, Jean Pierre et Ami Sons of Pierre Huaud I, associates from 1682 to 1688. They were appointed painters to the Court of Prussia in 1686, and went to Berlin. In 1686 they signed "lies deux Freres Huaut Les Jeunes"; after 1686 "Les Freres Huaud" or "Les deux Ceres Huaud" with the addition of "peintres de son A.F. a Berlin" "p.d. V. A. fct a Berlin". They returned to Geneva in 1700 and after that date their signature appeared as "Les Freres Huaut" or "Les dens freres Huaut" or "Peter et Amicus Huaut"; they also signed "Frames Ilutmlt". The name is spelt I-Iuaud or IIuaut and sometimes Husult. Ibis lot will be sold on behalf of Me ,Jean Chen? Conunissai'e Prisen? r 19, rtte Pro fesset?' PattJiq?e 69002 Lyon France Tel. (33) 4 72 77 78 01 Fax (33) 4 78 37 68 17