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Lot Essay
US$10,000-15,000
The Geneva enamellers, particularly the Huaut family, are renowned for their distinctive and beautiful style of enamel paintings. The outstanding work is characterized by their miniaturist style and use of rich and varied colours in contrast to the pastel shades of the French enamellers of Blois. The enamel cases decorated by the Huaut family are highly regarded works of art in their own right.
Pierre Huaut, son of the French goldsmith Jean Huaut and founder of the dynasty, was born in 1612. He moved to Geneva in 1630 and three of his eleven children became also renowned enamellers: Pierre II (1647-1698), Jean-Pierre (1655-1723) and Ami (1657-1724). It is likely that the three brothers trained in the workshop of their father until around 1680 when Pierre II set up his own business. The second son Jean-Pierre entered into partnership with Ami in 1682. In 1686 they were appointed enamel painters to the Prince of Brandenburg, a position they held until their return to Geneva in 1700. The present watch case, signed Les freres Huaut can be dated from this period.
The brothers continued working until the death of Jean-Pierre in 1723 and Ami a year later. The watch cases of the Huauts are usually found with movements made by various English, French, German and Swiss makers to whom they were obviously sold at the time.
The Geneva enamellers, particularly the Huaut family, are renowned for their distinctive and beautiful style of enamel paintings. The outstanding work is characterized by their miniaturist style and use of rich and varied colours in contrast to the pastel shades of the French enamellers of Blois. The enamel cases decorated by the Huaut family are highly regarded works of art in their own right.
Pierre Huaut, son of the French goldsmith Jean Huaut and founder of the dynasty, was born in 1612. He moved to Geneva in 1630 and three of his eleven children became also renowned enamellers: Pierre II (1647-1698), Jean-Pierre (1655-1723) and Ami (1657-1724). It is likely that the three brothers trained in the workshop of their father until around 1680 when Pierre II set up his own business. The second son Jean-Pierre entered into partnership with Ami in 1682. In 1686 they were appointed enamel painters to the Prince of Brandenburg, a position they held until their return to Geneva in 1700. The present watch case, signed Les freres Huaut can be dated from this period.
The brothers continued working until the death of Jean-Pierre in 1723 and Ami a year later. The watch cases of the Huauts are usually found with movements made by various English, French, German and Swiss makers to whom they were obviously sold at the time.