Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Hong Kong, May 10, 2020
LOT 236
Unsigned - Cabinet miniature; enamel
HKD 25,000 - 30,000
USD 3,300 - 3,900 / EUR 3,000 - 3,600 / CHF 3,300 - 3,900
Enamel, horizontal rectangular-shaped, cabinet miniature. Polychrome painting on enamel on gold attributable to Jean-Abraham Lissignol (1749-1819), Geneva, showing Jacob blessing Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph. On the counter-enamel “No 198.JL.” [or K] and “1817”.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3 |
Good |
Brand Unsigned, Geneva
Year Circa 1817
Material enamel
Height 42.3 mm.
Width 62 mm.
Notes
This enamelled plate is most likely originally mounted on a snuffbox or on the cabinet of a small clock. Because of its quality, it’s definitely made in Geneva but is difficult to attribute this scene to one of the painters then active in this city.
The best known of whom are at the beginning of the 19th century: Jean-Abraham Lissignol (1749-1819), Henri-Albert Adam (1766-1820), Jean-Louis Richter (1766-1841), Isaac Adam (1768-1841), Aimé-Julien Troll (1781-1852) and Jean-François Victor Dupont (1785-1863).
We lean towards the first of them, Lissignol, reinforced by the fact that the counter-enamel is monogrammed; monogram that can be interpreted as “J.L” and not “K”.
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Jacob blessing Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph
The scene is from the Old Testament, Genesis, Ch. 48. In this scene, Joseph brings his two sons (Manasseh and Ephraim) to his dying father Jacob so that they can receive the family blessing.
According to tradition, the eldest son is blessed with the patriarch’s right hand. However, Jacob deliberately crossed his arms and put his right hand on Ephraim’s (the younger son’s) head and his left hand on Manasseh’s (the oldest son’s) head. Joseph was displeased and thought that his father was making a mistake. When Joseph tried to correct his father, Jacob refused and told Joseph that he was purposefully blessing the younger son.