On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT wil… Read more

Soret. A fine and impressive silver, gold, enamel and paste-set urn-form watch with integral armorial seal

Signed Soret A Genève, circa 1800

Details

Soret. A fine and impressive silver, gold, enamel and paste-set urn-form watch with integral armorial seal
Signed Soret A Genève, circa 1800
Movement: manual, gilt full-plate, fusée with chain, verge escapement, pierced and engraved continental balance cock, signed
Dial: white enamel, signed
Case: urn-form with panels of deep blue translucent enamel, set on both sides with colourless and blue pastes, the base with engraved armorial seal, 50.5 mm. wide, 103.3 mm. long

Special notice

On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT will be charged at 8% on both the premium as well as the hammer price. Many of the watches offered for sale in this catalogue are pictured with straps made of endangered or protected animal materials such as alligator or crocodile. These endangered species straps are shown for display purposes only and are not for sale. Christie’s will remove and retain the strap prior to shipment from the sale site. At some sale sites, Christie’s may, at its discretion, make the displayed endangered species strap available to the buyer of the lot free of charge if collected in person from the sale site within 1 year of the date of the sale. Please check with the department for details on a particular lot. On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT will be charged at 7.7% on both the premium as well as the hammer price.

Lot Essay

The present watch and its highly attractive, lavishly decorated urn-shaped case is a perfect example of the fashion for such novelty timepieces in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Of relatively large and impressive size, it was evidently intended for use at the owner’s writing desk, the foot is engraved with an aristocratic coat-of-arms and ducal coronet to be used for the sealing of important documents.

The Sorets were originally from Blois, France, and became members of the bourgeoisie in Geneva in 1668. Several generations of reputed watchmakers originated from the first settlers.

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