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Lot Essay
This 1970s vintage Pendulette Dome ‘Musique’ is a superb and ravishingly beautiful example of Patek Philippe’s iconic and unique enameled solar-powered dome clocks.
Patek Philippe’s dome clocks are not only highly collectable, but are also appreciated as entirely unique hand-decorated works of art by some of the finest artists working in enamel during the 20th century. Now becoming much harder to obtain, these stunning and functional timepieces perfectly represent Patek Philippe’s mastery of both advanced technology and the finest rare handicrafts.
‘Musique’ Solar Dome Clock by Marie Françoise Martin
A one-of-a-kind cloisonné enamel masterpiece named ‘Musique’ is decorated with the ancient technique of Grand Feu cloisonné enamel with vignettes of musical instruments and flowers against the visually striking deep red translucent enamel background that are executed with immense skill by the renowned enamel artist Marie Françoise Martin, the musical theme continues into the dome which is decorated with a musical score, quill and apple.
Marie Françoise Martin who made the exquisite panels of this clock was one of Patek Philippe’s master enamellers who excelled in fine cloisonné work, her initials can be found in the corner of the main panel. The shape of the curved side panels and dome present an extraordinary challenge for the artisan and one that can only be mastered after years of practice. The design itself is created by using a variety of opaque and transparent enamel colors, each element requiring eight or nine firings at a temperature of 850 degrees centigrade. The design requires several meters of gold wire to form the cells or ‘cloisons’ which are then filled with enamel powder and fired.
The cloisonné enamel technique is only ever used by Patek Philippe for very small editions of timepieces or unique dome clocks. The very limited production is a result of the few artisans skilled enough to decorate the clock's challenging curved surfaces, exquisite works of art in their own right and highly appreciated in today's collector market. Since their launch in 1955, few examples of these clocks have been produced every year, each unique by its individually decorated case featuring cloisonné enamel scenes or sometimes engraved or leather-covered with applied ornaments. The completion of one single clock can take up to a year, resulting in an exceptionally beautiful work of art.
Patek Philippe Dome Clocks
Patek Philippe Dome Clocks Patek Philippe launched the solar-powered dome clock in the mid-20th century. They boast lavish and uniquely decorated cases featuring engravings of varying pattern or cloisonné enamel scenes. Still in production today, most likely due to their continued popularity, they were made in three series.
First series: Produced in the 1950s and 1960s with a mechanical 17’’’250 E pocket watch movement powered through the solar panel in the dome, the number ‘17’ derived from the diameter measurement of the movement which comes from an old industrial measurement tradition whereby measurement was carried out using candle wicks in ‘lines’ or ‘lignes’, ‘250’ for the thickness, and ‘E’ for electric. The large solar panel supplies power to the cylindrical storage device which then transmits energy to wind the movement. The beauty of this patented mechanism allowing the clock to be functional in the dark. At the time, this patented technique was seen as revolutionary, Patek Philippe were seen as being able to 'master the energy of light'.
Second series: Beginning in 1970, dome clocks were produced with Quartz movement with a smaller solar panel that seemed to have a higher position on the dome, becoming even smaller in the 1990s.
Third series: The only dome series with cell battery movement. This has a smaller solar panel or no solar panel seen from 2007 onwards.
Towards the end of the 1940's, the Swiss watchmaking industry revived the technique of cloisonné enamel which had been used since the Byzantine period. This technique uses fine bands (filaments) of gold to outline the design subject, which are then soldered to the surface of a plate. The empty spaces are then filled with ground enamel and fired multiple times at varying temperatures between 700 and 900 degrees centigrade to achieve different colors. Patek Philippe's enamellers can take up to one year to complete such a dome clock and less than a handful can be complete each year at their workshops.
Patek Philippe’s dome clocks are not only highly collectable, but are also appreciated as entirely unique hand-decorated works of art by some of the finest artists working in enamel during the 20th century. Now becoming much harder to obtain, these stunning and functional timepieces perfectly represent Patek Philippe’s mastery of both advanced technology and the finest rare handicrafts.
‘Musique’ Solar Dome Clock by Marie Françoise Martin
A one-of-a-kind cloisonné enamel masterpiece named ‘Musique’ is decorated with the ancient technique of Grand Feu cloisonné enamel with vignettes of musical instruments and flowers against the visually striking deep red translucent enamel background that are executed with immense skill by the renowned enamel artist Marie Françoise Martin, the musical theme continues into the dome which is decorated with a musical score, quill and apple.
Marie Françoise Martin who made the exquisite panels of this clock was one of Patek Philippe’s master enamellers who excelled in fine cloisonné work, her initials can be found in the corner of the main panel. The shape of the curved side panels and dome present an extraordinary challenge for the artisan and one that can only be mastered after years of practice. The design itself is created by using a variety of opaque and transparent enamel colors, each element requiring eight or nine firings at a temperature of 850 degrees centigrade. The design requires several meters of gold wire to form the cells or ‘cloisons’ which are then filled with enamel powder and fired.
The cloisonné enamel technique is only ever used by Patek Philippe for very small editions of timepieces or unique dome clocks. The very limited production is a result of the few artisans skilled enough to decorate the clock's challenging curved surfaces, exquisite works of art in their own right and highly appreciated in today's collector market. Since their launch in 1955, few examples of these clocks have been produced every year, each unique by its individually decorated case featuring cloisonné enamel scenes or sometimes engraved or leather-covered with applied ornaments. The completion of one single clock can take up to a year, resulting in an exceptionally beautiful work of art.
Patek Philippe Dome Clocks
Patek Philippe Dome Clocks Patek Philippe launched the solar-powered dome clock in the mid-20th century. They boast lavish and uniquely decorated cases featuring engravings of varying pattern or cloisonné enamel scenes. Still in production today, most likely due to their continued popularity, they were made in three series.
First series: Produced in the 1950s and 1960s with a mechanical 17’’’250 E pocket watch movement powered through the solar panel in the dome, the number ‘17’ derived from the diameter measurement of the movement which comes from an old industrial measurement tradition whereby measurement was carried out using candle wicks in ‘lines’ or ‘lignes’, ‘250’ for the thickness, and ‘E’ for electric. The large solar panel supplies power to the cylindrical storage device which then transmits energy to wind the movement. The beauty of this patented mechanism allowing the clock to be functional in the dark. At the time, this patented technique was seen as revolutionary, Patek Philippe were seen as being able to 'master the energy of light'.
Second series: Beginning in 1970, dome clocks were produced with Quartz movement with a smaller solar panel that seemed to have a higher position on the dome, becoming even smaller in the 1990s.
Third series: The only dome series with cell battery movement. This has a smaller solar panel or no solar panel seen from 2007 onwards.
Towards the end of the 1940's, the Swiss watchmaking industry revived the technique of cloisonné enamel which had been used since the Byzantine period. This technique uses fine bands (filaments) of gold to outline the design subject, which are then soldered to the surface of a plate. The empty spaces are then filled with ground enamel and fired multiple times at varying temperatures between 700 and 900 degrees centigrade to achieve different colors. Patek Philippe's enamellers can take up to one year to complete such a dome clock and less than a handful can be complete each year at their workshops.