Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jun 25, 2011

LOT 475

King Arthur and Emmeline Swiss, No. 187. Made for the Chinese market, circa 1860. Very fine, 18K gold, painted on enamel and pearl set center-seconds pocket watch with duplex escapement.

HKD 200,000 - 300,000

USD 25,000 - 40,000 / EUR 18,000 - 27,000

C. Four-body, the back finely painted on enamel representing King Arthur and Emmeline, the bezels, pendant, and bow set with split pearls, multi-colored enamel band with floral decoration. Gold cuvette hinged to the movement ring, with engraved border. D. Convex white enamel, radial narrow Roman numerals, outer minute/ seconds divisions with fifteen-minute/seconds Arabic numerals. Gold spade hands. M. 48 mm, gilt Chinese caliber fully engraved, standing barrel, duplex escapement, three-arm steel balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 2-33

Very good

Restored
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The finely painted on enamel scene is from the third act of the 1691 comic opera ?King Arthur and the British Worthy? by John Dryden with music by Henry Purcell. An adaptation in the 1780?s at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, was billed as an "Entertainment consisting of dialogue Music and Machinery" called Arthur and Emmeline, and this appears to be the inspiration for the engraving by P. W. Tomkins after Charles Ansell that was published in 1787.