Geneva, Nov 07, 2021
LOT 281
ALLEGORY OF FERTILITY
CHF 10,000 - 20,000
HKD 85,000 - 170,000 / USD 10,900 - 21,700 / EUR 9,400 - 18,700
Sold: CHF 16,250
Very fine, large and heavy 18K yellow gold, hunting-case, key-winding, round-shaped, pocket watch, with subsidiary seconds at 6. Cover and
case-back guilloché (engine-turned) and, in the centre, engraved in taille-douce (fine cut); on the cover, the coat-of-arms of Argentina; on the
case-back, an allegory of abundance represented by a huge collection of exotic fruits, including pineapples, bunches of grapes, etc; case-band
chiselled. Inside cover and case-back decorated en suite; inside the cover, a romantic scene depicting what appears to be the farewell of a
couple of lovers; inside the cover, a probably mythological scene showing a man, perhaps Bacchus, holding a child in his arms, while a woman,
probably one of the Bacchae or Maenads, amuses herself by handing him a bunch of grapes.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 2* |
Very good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 2-6-01 |
Very good Slightly oxidized HANDS Original |
Brand Unsigned, probably Neuchâtel mountains
Year Circa 1850-1860
Movement No. 1 824
Case No. 1 824
Caliber 24’’’, gilded brass, going barrel, lateral lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensated balance with gold poising screws, large brass weights and blued steel flat hairspring, polished steel index-regulator; plate and bridges very finely engraved in taille- douce (fine cut); main-plate with foliage; bridges representing an allegory of the hunt, cut out in the shape of various classes of animals: fishes, birds, mammals and insects.
Notes
The engraved decoration on this watch, both on the case and on the movement, suggests an allegory of fertility. On the cover is the coat-of-arms
of the Republic of Argentina, founded in 1816. One can imagine that this watch was made to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of this country or
another important event; country which was at the time considered to be a “Pays de Cocagne”, a Land of Plenty.
In the imagination of certain European cultures, a “Pays de Cocagne” (Land of Plenty) is a kind of earthly paradise, a miraculous land where nature overflows with generosity for its inhabitants and guests. Far from famines and wars, Cocagne is a land of parties and perpetual bombast, where play and laziness are advocated and work is outlawed. Thus, in many European countries, the idea of a “brighter tomorrow” was born, bringing a large population to various transatlantic or transoceanic countries.
The watch is typical of the production of the Neuchâtel mountains in the third quarter of the 19th century. At that time, engravers on precious metal enjoyed a great reputation, notably H. Grandjean-Perrenoud, A. Dubois, various members of the Courvoisier family and Jule-Louis Jacot, etc.
In the imagination of certain European cultures, a “Pays de Cocagne” (Land of Plenty) is a kind of earthly paradise, a miraculous land where nature overflows with generosity for its inhabitants and guests. Far from famines and wars, Cocagne is a land of parties and perpetual bombast, where play and laziness are advocated and work is outlawed. Thus, in many European countries, the idea of a “brighter tomorrow” was born, bringing a large population to various transatlantic or transoceanic countries.
The watch is typical of the production of the Neuchâtel mountains in the third quarter of the 19th century. At that time, engravers on precious metal enjoyed a great reputation, notably H. Grandjean-Perrenoud, A. Dubois, various members of the Courvoisier family and Jule-Louis Jacot, etc.