Antiquorum in Love, Impotant Horology...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Nov 16, 1997

LOT 88

Nathanael Barrow, London, the enamel by Pierre II Huaud, circa 1675. "Jupiter et Calysto " Very fine 22K gold and enamel pre-balance spring watch.

CHF 80,000 - 100,000

USD 55,000 - 70,000

C. Double body, bassine form with loose-ring pendant, the gold split bezel with engraved decoration, the back exterior enamel with Jupiter et Calysto, the band with landscape vignettes, intersected by a floral pattern painted en grisaille; interior with a classical ruin in a landscape after Gabriel Perelle. D. Gold champleve with matted ground, the centre engraved with a rosette. Blued steel single hand. M. I-Iinged gilt brass full plate with tulip pillars, fusee with gut line, three wheel train with verge escapement, plain three arm brass balance without spring, oval section pierced and florally engraved silver cock secured by a screw, worm and wheel set up with blued-steel brackets and silver indicating disc. Signed on the back plate. Diam. 36 mm


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 18

Spotted
Movement: 2-9

Very good

Scratched
Dial: 4-54

Fair

Service dial

Notes

Jupiter and Callisto Callisto, whose name signifies "the most beautiful", was the daughter of Lycaon, King of Arcadia. She was one of the nymphs of Diana (Artemis), the goddess representing chastity and in that role was required to be as chaste as the goddess herself. However, Callisto was seduced by Jupiter (Zeus) who, in order to approach her, had disguised himself as Diana. As Callisto bathed with Diana, the latter noticed her pregnancy and sent her away. Callisto was also punished by Juno (Hera), Jupiter's jealous wife, who turned her into a she-bear. According to Ovid, Jupiter then honored Callisto and her son, Areas, in making them into stars, forming the constellations of the Great Bear and of the Little Bear. Nathaniel Barrow (c. 1639-c.1700) Nathaniel Barrow, London: his dates of birth and death are uncertain (1); apprenticed 1653 to Job Payne, Free January 1660, Master Clockmakcr's Company in 1689. Despite being unsigned, there can be no doubt that this watch case is a product of Pierre II Huaud. The black and white design dividing the vignettes on the band is reminiscent of an example preserved in the Dr. E. Gschwind Collection, with a movement by Richard Street (2). Watches with Geneva cases and English movements are very rare but not unknown, as evinced by the example cited above, another watch by Leroux (3) in the same collection (signed Pier. Huaud pinx.invnt.) and a watch signed Henry Jones (4). (1) Loonies, B., The Early Clodusahers o/ Great Britain, N.A.G. Press, London 1981, p.74 (2) Bull, S. & Sturm, F. Monlres de Geneve, Dr. E. Gschwind Coll., Basel 1978, No.21 (3) op cit. No. 24 (4) Christies Sale, Time Watches and Carriage Clocks, March 21, 1972, lot 132 Pierre Huaud the younger (1647-1698) Known as Pierre born in Geneva, he was the eldest son of Pierre Huaud the eldest and was responsible for tutoring his brother, And, in the art of painting on enamel. He worked in partnership with his two brothers Jean-Pierre and Ami. Two watches bearing his signature survive, the majority being of later date when he was in partnership with Arni and they worked for the Elector of Brandenburg in Berlin.