The Collection of a Connoisseur 掌上的百年風華: 鐘錶及裝飾藝術收藏
The Collection of a Connoisseur 掌上的百年風華: 鐘錶及裝飾藝術收藏
'THE GARDEN THEATRE' SWISS | A RARE GOLD, ENAMEL AND PEARL-SET QUARTER REPEATING AUTOMATON WATCH WITH CONCEALED EROTIC SCENE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET CIRCA 1800
Auction Closed
July 14, 12:35 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
'THE GARDEN THEATRE'
SWISS
A RARE GOLD, ENAMEL AND PEARL-SET QUARTER REPEATING AUTOMATON WATCH WITH CONCEALED EROTIC SCENE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET
CIRCA 1800
gilded half plate movement, cylinder escapement, plunge repeat on two bells incorporated into the backplate, automaton movement, white enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute track, blued steel hands, gold case, both bezels set with pearls, later back panel with engine-turned centre surrounded by a row of enamel roses, the band decorated with enameled trophies with alternating green and red translucent enamel backgrounds, finely painted enamel landscape concealed beneath the back cover depicting a love garden, automaton figures in the foreground, a seated lady, her arm raising and lowering a dove beside a fountain with turning glass rod imitating flowing water, a dog looks towards the theatre stage whilst moving its head and wagging its tail, sliding panel to the theatre's stage with enamel cupid opening to reveal an erotic automaton scene operated via a lever to the case band
diameter 57mm
Christie's South Kensington, 29 March 2000, lot 36
The scene to this watch is a variation of the 'Theatre' automata watches of which only a small number are known, including examples by Du Bois Fils and Henry Capt. A 'Theatre' automaton watch by Henry Capt, formerly in the collection of Theodor Beyer, was sold at Antiquorum Zurich, 16 November 2003, lot 47. The latter watch depicted a theatre stage filling the back panel of the watch, to the left side of theatre's stage a small panel opened to reveal an erotic automaton. The scene to the present watch is placed within a finely painted classical garden, the love birds to the base and the automaton dog before the curtained stage hint at the hidden scene beneath.