DENIS BORDIER | A FINE AND SMALL GOLD AND ENAMEL SINGLE CASED VERGE WATCH THE ENAMEL PAINTING ATTRIBUTED TO PIERRE HUAUD IICIRCA 1675

• Movement: gilded full plate, verge escapement, plain flat steel two-arm balance, worm and wheel set-up with blued steel scrolling brackets, finely pierced and decoratively engraved screwed-on balance cock with long foot, fusee and gut line, rounded baluster pillars, signed Denis Bordier• Dial: white enamel chapter ring with Roman numerals interspersed with half hour divisions, dial centre with translucent green enamel over decorative engraving, a white opaque enamel flower beneath the centre of the single turned gilded hand• Case: gold, the back framed with a polychrome enamel band of flowers en ronde bosse, separated from the central oval reserve by a border of translucent green enamel over decorative concentric circular engraving, the central reserve with polychrome enamel depiction of Minerva, the inside case back with further polychrome enamel painting of Apollo against a light blue background, gold bezel decoratively engraved with stylised leaves

Movement: running at time of cataloguing but for short periods only. Small marks and scratches to backplate. Dial: with some light scratches. Case: Green enamel to the case sides with restoration, some restoration to the enamel painted border of flowers by the case opening, some restoration to the ronde bosse enamel flowers. flowers of the front bezel. Some small restorations around pendant.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

A few watch cases of similar design to the present piece are known and their enamel work is usually attributed to the Huaud family. The portrait to the interior of the watch is a familiar image of a gentleman dressed in a flamboyant costume and wearing an elaborate plumed helmet, traditionally considered to be a depiction of Louis XIV appearing as Apollo, the Sun King, in the Court Ballet de la Nuit in 1653. The style of the enamel decoration would suggest an attribution to Pierre Huaud II (1647-1698) eldest son of Pierre Huaud I (1612-1680). Pierre Huaud II's work exhibits many of the characteristics employed by his father, namely the flinqué ground with translucent enamel and the raised en-ronde-bosse enamel borders decorated with flowers and foliage. A watch with movement by Jean-Baptiste Duboule in the collection of the Patek Philippe Museum has a case of similar design to the present watch; attributed to Pierre Huaud's brother, Jean-Pierre (1655-1723), the latter watch also features Minerva to the case back and a figure with a plumed helmet to the inside case back, the Duboule watch's enamel borders are also executed en-ronde-bosse in a similar manner to the present watch. For the Duboule watch, see: P. Friess, Patek Philippe Museum, Vol. III, Inv. S-130 p.202). For a further similar watch attributable to the Huauds but with movement by Isaac Gravelle, see: Sotheby's Geneva, 10 May 2009, lot 108. Denis Bordier was born in Geneva in 1629 and died in 1708.