Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces...

Hong Kong, Dec 05, 2021

LOT 25

LS. DUCHÊNE & FILS
Large decorative pocket watch, centre-seconds; yellow gold, enamel and rhinestones

HKD 50,000 - 100,000

EUR 5,700 - 11,300 / CHF 6,000 - 11,900 / USD 6,500 - 12,900

Yellow gold, enamel and rhinestones, open-face, key-winding, round-shaped, large “Directoire” pocket watch with centre-seconds and one horological complication:
· Date of the month (subsidiary dial at 12 o’clock)
Case-back with a scene showing a couple of lovers; the painting on enamel on gold attributable to Jean-Louis Richter (1766-1841), Geneva; the case-back border with a décor of silver applied motif set with rhinestones and, on the lower part, an altar of Love; front bezel set with a row of rhinestones.
White enamel dial with suspended “Breguet” numerals; yellow gold “Breguet” hands.
19’’’, full plate, gilded brass, with fusee and chain, cylinder, monometallic balance (gilded brass) and blued steel flat hairspring, pierced and engraved gilded continental cock.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand Louis Duchene & Fils, Geneva

Year Circa 1800

Movement No. 47 632

Diameter 54.3 mm

Caliber 19’’’, fusee and chain, verge escapement

Weight 96 gr. (approx.)

Signature Dial and Movement

Notes

Richter, Jean-Louis (1766-1841)
Learned his art in Geneva under David-Etienne Roux and Philippe-Samuel-Théodore Roux, becoming a most renowned enamel painter. His speciality was the painting of landscapes and particularly lake-side scenes and marine-scapes, often representing ships in a harbour or battles with fighting Men-of-War, but, on occasion, also portraits and hunting scenes. He did not often sign his work, but it is clearly recognised as being in his hand from the style and quality of the painting. He applied his art principally to watch cases and snuff-boxes and these were largely destined for the Chinese, Turkish, British and Italian markets. In 1828, he was in partnership with Aimé-Julien Troll (1781-1852) and one can find work signed “Richter et Troll”. Richter, like other great enamel painters of the time, often found inspiration for his work from paintings or engravings by the artists then in fashion particularly Claude Vernet or the romanticised English and Irish rural life.