.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Extremely rare, fresh to market, and from the family of the original owner, the present piece unique pocket watch, called 'The Scout', after the original painting by C.M. Russell, 1907, was made for the 1995 Legendary Watches of Patek Philippe Exhibition at the Sid Richardson Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. The watch features a masterwork miniature enamel painting by none other than G. Menni, considered as one of the last great enamellists able to capture the supremely exacting art of miniature painting on enamel. the watch is truly a work of art.
G. Menni painted approximately 50 miniature enamels for Patek Philippe, working in Geneva in the late 20th Century. Some of his works include famous scenes such as the Renoir’s Déjeuner des Canotiers (1990), the Picasso clown (1989) and the Canaletto Canale Grande (1984). The art of enameling is an old and widely adopted technology with a history of more than 3000 years. All ancient cultures have known and applied enamel to decorate and provide luminosity and color for jeweler and decorative ornaments.
Of all the enamel techniques, miniature painting on enamel remains to this day the rarest and most difficult of the decorative arts, merging technical virtuosity and artistic sensibility. According to Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe, being an enameller is the hardest job in the world: “This is the great terror of enameling. Yes, on the one hand, you have to have the patience of a saint; yes, you need nerves of steel and a steady hand; yes, you have to be blessed with rare artistic talent; but above all, you have to be able to live with the fear that the very process that perfects your work can just as soon destroy it. And that there’s nothing you can do about it.” An intricate design or painting can necessitate up to 25 times in the kiln and any variation in temperature, drafts of air or even a speck of dust can wipe out the work of one whole year.
The house of Patek Philippe, ever since its founding in 1839, has thrived to continue this Genevan tradition of “belle horlogerie”, or "beautiful watchmaking" by pairing the best watchmakers with the most highly-skilled craftsmen in their specialties – engravers, goldsmiths, enamellists and gem-setters. In particular, their Grand Feu miniature enameling is considered the best in the world and only a handful of the most highly-skilled enamellists were selected to sign their works for Patek Philippe.
THE SCOUT (C.M. Russell, 1907)
The art of enameling
Russell painted the Pawnees infrequently, but when he did he made them identifiable by showing the distinctive roach hair style favored by Pawnee men in the buffalo hunting days. Pawnees were known to their enemies as "wolves" in recognition of their superior ability as scouts— they earned this reputation in the service of the United States Army in the period 1864-1876.
This fine study of a solitary warrior has been painted in enamel on the back of a Patek Philippe pocket watch with exacting precision by Giancarlo Menni. To achieve the depth and luminosity characteristic of Geneva enamel, Menni had to carefully and patiently follow the traditional steps of the master craftsman, beginning by evenly laying down several bases of pure, white enamel. To prepare the palette, enamel colors were ground to dust from metallic oxides and kept dry in small boxwood containers. The colors were mixed to a perfect consistency using lily oil and sandalwood oil. The first painting of the subject was done with diluted color to create an opaque effect, using the finest quality brushes-and in certain instances— a single boar's hair. By increasingly applying darker, more translucent paints with each of 15 firings, Menni created the intense colors formed by the layering process. Finally, there were 3 firings of clear enamel or "fondant" to produce the glaze which protects the enamel painting. A final hand polishing with pumice and jeweler's rouge completed the work, producing an intensity only found in Geneva enamel.
G. Menni painted approximately 50 miniature enamels for Patek Philippe, working in Geneva in the late 20th Century. Some of his works include famous scenes such as the Renoir’s Déjeuner des Canotiers (1990), the Picasso clown (1989) and the Canaletto Canale Grande (1984). The art of enameling is an old and widely adopted technology with a history of more than 3000 years. All ancient cultures have known and applied enamel to decorate and provide luminosity and color for jeweler and decorative ornaments.
Of all the enamel techniques, miniature painting on enamel remains to this day the rarest and most difficult of the decorative arts, merging technical virtuosity and artistic sensibility. According to Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe, being an enameller is the hardest job in the world: “This is the great terror of enameling. Yes, on the one hand, you have to have the patience of a saint; yes, you need nerves of steel and a steady hand; yes, you have to be blessed with rare artistic talent; but above all, you have to be able to live with the fear that the very process that perfects your work can just as soon destroy it. And that there’s nothing you can do about it.” An intricate design or painting can necessitate up to 25 times in the kiln and any variation in temperature, drafts of air or even a speck of dust can wipe out the work of one whole year.
The house of Patek Philippe, ever since its founding in 1839, has thrived to continue this Genevan tradition of “belle horlogerie”, or "beautiful watchmaking" by pairing the best watchmakers with the most highly-skilled craftsmen in their specialties – engravers, goldsmiths, enamellists and gem-setters. In particular, their Grand Feu miniature enameling is considered the best in the world and only a handful of the most highly-skilled enamellists were selected to sign their works for Patek Philippe.
THE SCOUT (C.M. Russell, 1907)
The art of enameling
Russell painted the Pawnees infrequently, but when he did he made them identifiable by showing the distinctive roach hair style favored by Pawnee men in the buffalo hunting days. Pawnees were known to their enemies as "wolves" in recognition of their superior ability as scouts— they earned this reputation in the service of the United States Army in the period 1864-1876.
This fine study of a solitary warrior has been painted in enamel on the back of a Patek Philippe pocket watch with exacting precision by Giancarlo Menni. To achieve the depth and luminosity characteristic of Geneva enamel, Menni had to carefully and patiently follow the traditional steps of the master craftsman, beginning by evenly laying down several bases of pure, white enamel. To prepare the palette, enamel colors were ground to dust from metallic oxides and kept dry in small boxwood containers. The colors were mixed to a perfect consistency using lily oil and sandalwood oil. The first painting of the subject was done with diluted color to create an opaque effect, using the finest quality brushes-and in certain instances— a single boar's hair. By increasingly applying darker, more translucent paints with each of 15 firings, Menni created the intense colors formed by the layering process. Finally, there were 3 firings of clear enamel or "fondant" to produce the glaze which protects the enamel painting. A final hand polishing with pumice and jeweler's rouge completed the work, producing an intensity only found in Geneva enamel.