Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Apr 28, 2019

LOT 562

UNSIGNED FORM-WATCH IN THE SHAPE OF A BUTTERFLY; 18K YELLOW GOLD, ENAMEL AND PEARLS

HKD 135,000 - 160,000

CHF 16,900 - 20,300 / USD 17,000 - 20,500

18K yellow gold and enamel, hunting-cased, key-winding, form-watch in the shape of a butterfly. Case-back and cover polychrome enamelled imitating the colours of the lepidopteran insect.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-75

Good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Slightly restored soft enamel
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Brand Unsigned

Year circa 1800-1810

Calibre  9''', full plate, gilded brass, with fusee and chain, verge escapement, monometallic balance (gilded brass) and blued steel flat hairspring, pierced and engraved gilded continental cock

Case No. 1 648

Material 18K yellow gold, enamel and pearls.

Caliber 9''', full plate, gilded brass, with fusee and chain, verge escapement, monometallic balance (gilded brass) and blued steel flat hairspring, pierced and engraved gilded continental cock

Dimensions 39 x 35 mm

Notes

Form-watch in the shape of a butterfly Very few “montres de fantaisie” (form watches) in the shape of a butterfly from the early- 19th century are known: • Klaus Niedheidt, Düsseldorf, auction, May 3, 1980, lot 183 (Estimation: DEM 18 000.- / 24 000.-). • Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, October 13, 1985, lot 255, sold for the amount of CHF 12 000.- • Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, April 25, 1993, lot 222, sold for the amount of CHF 12 650.- • Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, October 15, 1994, lot 347, sold for the amount of CHF 30 000.- • Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, March 31 ?? April 1st, 2001, The Sandberg Watch Collection, lot 398, sold for the amount of CHF 12 650.- • Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, March 31 ?? April 1st, 2001, The Sandberg Watch Collection, lot 399, sold for the amount of CHF 11 500.- • Antiquorum, Geneva, auction, March 31 ?? April 1st, 2001, The Sandberg Watch Collection, lot 401, sold for the amount of CHF 10 580.- • Christie’s, Hong Kong, auction, November 30, 2005, lot 2 796, sold for the amount of HK$ 90 000.- • Christie’s, Geneva, auction, May 16, 2011, lot 143, sold for the amount CHF 42 500.- (with “Turkish” dial). • Christie’s, Geneva, auction, November 14, 2011, lot 121, sold for the amount of CHF 22 500.- • Christie’s, Hong Kong, auction, May 29, 2013, The John Stainton Collection, lot 2 819, sold for the amount of HK$ 325 000.- Two of them are today kept in the Patek Philippe Museum, Geneva (Inv. S-30 and Inv. S-289). Bibliography Patrizzi, Osvaldo, & Sturm, Fabienne Xavière, Montres de fantaisie, 1790-1850, Watches of Fantasy, Geneva, Editions de la Tribune et de la Galerie d’horlogerie ancienne, 1979 (152 p.), ill. 12.