.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present watch and its combination of a lavishly decorated case and complicated movement featuring repeating and music is the perfect example of a timepiece made by special order for a Chinese dignitary.
Although unsigned, its movement can be attributed to Piguet & Meylan, renowned manufacturer of musical items of extraordinary quality. Some of the movements were extremely thin and based on the disc or sur plateau format with fan teeth, a system believed to have been invented by Meylan. The majority of their pieces were marked with the initials PM in a lozenge and a serial number.
The superb quality of the enamel decoration illustrates the celebrated art of enamel miniatures originating from Geneva in the late 18th/early 19th century. At the time it was not unusual that an artist would not sign his work. The enamel on the present watch however can be attributed to the celebrated Jean-Louis Richter, made after English genre works painted by artists specializing in romantic English rural life, such as William Hamilton, Francis Wheatley and William Redmore Bigg. These paintings enjoyed enormous popularity at the time and were often used by Geneva enamellers to embellish their masterpieces.
Piguet Meylan
Isaac-Daniel Piguet was born in Le Chenit in the Valley of Joux in 1775. At an early age, he specialized in the manufacturing of expensive and complicated pieces such as watches with carillons and en passant hour and quarter striking clock watches. He finally settled in Geneva where, in 1811, he formed a partnership with Philippe-Samuel Meylan.
Philippe-Samuel Meylan (1772-1845), a member of a family of renowned watchmakers, was born in Le Brassus. He specialized in the production of very thin watches and became an eminent maker of watches with musical automata.
Jean-Louis Richter (1766-1841)
Jean-Louis Richter was born in Geneva in 1766 and learned his art from the celebrated David-Etienne and Philippe-Samuel-Théodore Roux.
Throughout Richter's lifetime he was known for is characteristic heads which were upon closer inspection of interesting proportion and doll like features. Contrary to what is usually thought, painted enamel subjects are seldom through one's own imagination, and Richter himself was inspired by, may it in some cases loosely, known paintings and prints of the period. There are some differences between Richter's interpretations and the originals but this can be mostly attributed to the constricted techniques of enamelling. These changes though are most harmonious and it is sometimes suggested that this was the will of Richter himself. Although his signature can be found on some of his works, the majority of his paintings remained unsigned but are easily recognisable as being his from their quality and style.
Richter's landscapes and figures are among the most accomplished works of the period and can be admired in Geneva's Musée de l'Horlogerie et de l'Emaillerie and in the prestigious Patek Philippe Museum.
Although unsigned, its movement can be attributed to Piguet & Meylan, renowned manufacturer of musical items of extraordinary quality. Some of the movements were extremely thin and based on the disc or sur plateau format with fan teeth, a system believed to have been invented by Meylan. The majority of their pieces were marked with the initials PM in a lozenge and a serial number.
The superb quality of the enamel decoration illustrates the celebrated art of enamel miniatures originating from Geneva in the late 18th/early 19th century. At the time it was not unusual that an artist would not sign his work. The enamel on the present watch however can be attributed to the celebrated Jean-Louis Richter, made after English genre works painted by artists specializing in romantic English rural life, such as William Hamilton, Francis Wheatley and William Redmore Bigg. These paintings enjoyed enormous popularity at the time and were often used by Geneva enamellers to embellish their masterpieces.
Piguet Meylan
Isaac-Daniel Piguet was born in Le Chenit in the Valley of Joux in 1775. At an early age, he specialized in the manufacturing of expensive and complicated pieces such as watches with carillons and en passant hour and quarter striking clock watches. He finally settled in Geneva where, in 1811, he formed a partnership with Philippe-Samuel Meylan.
Philippe-Samuel Meylan (1772-1845), a member of a family of renowned watchmakers, was born in Le Brassus. He specialized in the production of very thin watches and became an eminent maker of watches with musical automata.
Jean-Louis Richter (1766-1841)
Jean-Louis Richter was born in Geneva in 1766 and learned his art from the celebrated David-Etienne and Philippe-Samuel-Théodore Roux.
Throughout Richter's lifetime he was known for is characteristic heads which were upon closer inspection of interesting proportion and doll like features. Contrary to what is usually thought, painted enamel subjects are seldom through one's own imagination, and Richter himself was inspired by, may it in some cases loosely, known paintings and prints of the period. There are some differences between Richter's interpretations and the originals but this can be mostly attributed to the constricted techniques of enamelling. These changes though are most harmonious and it is sometimes suggested that this was the will of Richter himself. Although his signature can be found on some of his works, the majority of his paintings remained unsigned but are easily recognisable as being his from their quality and style.
Richter's landscapes and figures are among the most accomplished works of the period and can be admired in Geneva's Musée de l'Horlogerie et de l'Emaillerie and in the prestigious Patek Philippe Museum.