Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Nov 27, 2016

LOT 296

VACHERON & CONSTANTIN "THE COCKATIEL CLOCK" BLACK ONYX JADE AND GOLD Vacheron & Constantin, Genève, "Astral", movement No. 389150, delivered in 1926, elaborate case by Verger Frères, No. 9497. Retailed by Linzeler & Marchak, Paris. Exceptional Chinoiserie, gold, black onyx, rhodochrosite, mother-of-pearl, jade, and lacquer rose-cut diamond-set eight-day going desk clock.

HKD 240,000 - 400,000

USD 30,900 - 51,500 / CHF 30,600 - 50,000

Sold: HKD 525,000

Rhodochrosite carving of a cockatiel perched atop a branch on the black laquered silver-gilt clock case with engraved mother of pearl and gold inlay, with hinged door to the reverse, the front with applied rose-cut diamond set platinum radial Roman numerals, on turned rhodochrosite balls upon black onyx base raised on gold bracket feet. Carved and pierced jade dragon on a gilt background. Black enameled gold Oriental hands. Rectangular, 47 x 38 mm. frosted gilt, 15 jewels, straight-line lever escapement with five adjustments, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with Breguet balance spring. Movement signed, case door frame signed by Verger and by the retailer.


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HEIGHT 15 cm. LENGTH 13.5 cm. DEPTH 6.5 cm. Astral The "Astral" trademark was registered by VACHERON & CONSTANTIN on February 22, 1895, under the number 7312. LINZELER & MARCHAK, Paris ALEXANDER MARCHAK left Kiev in 1917 at the start of the Russian Revolution, settling first in Berlin, then in Paris. He became a partner of ROBERT LINZELER, opening a boutique in the rue de la Paix. They exhibited with great success at the 1925 Arts Decoratifs as well the Arts & Techniques Show in 1937, both in Paris. In the 1940s, Marchak's son was associated with Jacques Verger, jeweler to the Court of Morocco, as well as many American connoisseurs and collectors. The present clock was previously sold by ANTIQUORUM, Geneva, The Quarter Millennium of Vacheron Constantin, April 3, 2005, lot 74.