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Lot Essay
The present watch is part of a limited series of watches, launched in 1997 in honor of the 19th Century naturalist John J. Audubon.
John J. Audubon
John James Audubon was born in 1785 in Saint Domingue, now Haiti, an illegitimate son of a French sea captain and his French mistress. He was raised by his stepmother in France, and took an early interest in birds, nature, and drawing. At the age of 18, he was sent to live in America to avoid conscription into Emperor Napoleon's army. He found plenty of birds to study and draw on the family-owned estate at Mill Grove, Pennsylvania, and conducted the first known bird-banding experiment in North America at that time, tying string around the legs of Eastern Phoebes which showed that the birds returned to the same nesting sites each year.
Audubon set up his own business, but continued to draw birds as a hobby. His business was successful, but then encountered hard times, and decided to pursue his hobby full time. In 1826, he brought his collection of life-size bird portraits to England, titled "The American Woodsman", and became a success. His next collection, "Birds of America" was composed of 435 prints, was first printed in Edinburgh, then in London. In 1838, the last print was issued, and Audubon settled back in New York City. He passed away in 1851 at the age of 65.
The Vacheron Constantin Audubon Series
Launched in 1997, the Audubon Birds of America watches were produced in 10 sets of 10 watches each, with an enamel image of a bird found in America, inspired by the work of John J. Audubon. The dials were enamelled and signed by Muriel Séchaud, using cloisonné enamel. This technique uses very fine bands, or filaments, of gold to outline the design subject, which are then soldered to the surface of a plate. The empty spaces are filled with ground enamel and fired multiple times, each time a new color is added.
The present watch features La Spatule Rose, or the Roseate Spoonbill. Spoonbills compromise six species of long-legged wading birds, that are found in estuaries, saltwater bayous, and lakes. In most species, the feathers are white, sometimes with a rosy tinge, but the Roseate Spoonbill of North and South America have feathers that are a deep pink, with a white neck and upper back. They are located from the Gulf of Texas to the West Indies to Argentina and Chile.
John J. Audubon
John James Audubon was born in 1785 in Saint Domingue, now Haiti, an illegitimate son of a French sea captain and his French mistress. He was raised by his stepmother in France, and took an early interest in birds, nature, and drawing. At the age of 18, he was sent to live in America to avoid conscription into Emperor Napoleon's army. He found plenty of birds to study and draw on the family-owned estate at Mill Grove, Pennsylvania, and conducted the first known bird-banding experiment in North America at that time, tying string around the legs of Eastern Phoebes which showed that the birds returned to the same nesting sites each year.
Audubon set up his own business, but continued to draw birds as a hobby. His business was successful, but then encountered hard times, and decided to pursue his hobby full time. In 1826, he brought his collection of life-size bird portraits to England, titled "The American Woodsman", and became a success. His next collection, "Birds of America" was composed of 435 prints, was first printed in Edinburgh, then in London. In 1838, the last print was issued, and Audubon settled back in New York City. He passed away in 1851 at the age of 65.
The Vacheron Constantin Audubon Series
Launched in 1997, the Audubon Birds of America watches were produced in 10 sets of 10 watches each, with an enamel image of a bird found in America, inspired by the work of John J. Audubon. The dials were enamelled and signed by Muriel Séchaud, using cloisonné enamel. This technique uses very fine bands, or filaments, of gold to outline the design subject, which are then soldered to the surface of a plate. The empty spaces are filled with ground enamel and fired multiple times, each time a new color is added.
The present watch features La Spatule Rose, or the Roseate Spoonbill. Spoonbills compromise six species of long-legged wading birds, that are found in estuaries, saltwater bayous, and lakes. In most species, the feathers are white, sometimes with a rosy tinge, but the Roseate Spoonbill of North and South America have feathers that are a deep pink, with a white neck and upper back. They are located from the Gulf of Texas to the West Indies to Argentina and Chile.