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Lot Essay
The present lot is an exceptional discovery, fascinating by its provenance, rarity and history. It was consigned to us for sale shortly before our Hong Kong 28 May 2018 Important Watches auction in which we offered Patek Philippe openface dress watch ref. 866/22, movement no. 932’117, with enamel miniature after Veronese’s “Pastoral Scene of Patrician Life” (lot 2396), the very same watch originally sold with the present watch stand “Lion” as confirmed by the original certificate. Lot 2396 was further accompanied by the stand “Italian Renaissance”, ref. 9624, a unique 18K gold, enamel and diamond-set piece.
According to our researches, watch no. 932’117 and stand “Italian Renaissance” made their first public appearance on 7 June 1999 at Antiquorum’s Important Jewelry, Watches and Wristwatches auction in Hong Kong, lot 127, with original fitted box, invoice, and “Originally, two watches of this type were purchased by Mr. Moradpour with two different watch holders. According to the invoice and certificate, one of the sets had a watch holder entitled "Lion" with the enamelled scene on the watch depicting a pastoral scene of Patrician life, while the other set had a watch holder entitled "Italian Renaissance" with the enamelled scene on the watch depicting Apollo and Isee. The two watches were subsequently switched at the request of the owner's son who was to receive one of these sets as a gift. Therefore, the set now offered for sale has the "Italian Renaissance" watch holder together with the watch of which the enamelled scene depicts a pastoral scene of Patrician life.”
The whereabouts of the present “Apollon & Issé” watch and “Lion” stand were unknown until May 2018 when consigned for this auction after more than 30 years in the collection of the late Claude Nobs, prominently exhibited in his mythical Chalet “Le Picotin” and admired by the countless famous artists which he entertained after their performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
The present dress watch with hand-painted enamel miniature and the finally crafted gold lion are works their own right. These two unique masterpieces exemplify Patek Philippe’s savoir-faire not only in finest watchmaking but also in enamelling, jewelling and goldsmithing, all specialities in which the manufacture has always held a prominent position.
The combination of provenance, history, rarity, aesthetics and excellent overall condition render this set a superb trophy for collectors of unique timepieces and old masters alike.
G. Menni
The enamel miniature on the present watch is signed by one of Patek Philippe’s foremost enamellists, G. Menni, who, along with Suzanne Rohr, was one of the most reputable enamellers in the field. It is after François Boucher’s “Apollon révélant sa divinité à la bergère Issé”, Musée des Beaux Arts Tours, France.
Working in Geneva in the late 20th century, G. Menni painted several enamel miniatures for Patek Philippe, including famous works such as Canaletto’s “Canale Grande” in 1984, Albert Samuel Anker's “The Village School” in 1987, Renoir’s “Déjeuner des Canotiers” in 1990, and Picasso’s "Seated Harlequin" in 1993. One of the few artists able to perpetuate the supremely exacting art of miniature painting on enamel, in her hands the secret alchemy of the coloured enamels is offering a second life of unequalled depth and finesse to some of the world's greatest art treasures.
For centuries, fine enamelling has decorated and enriched watches, jewellery and objects d'art. Patek Philippe maintains this rare craft of miniature enamelling, traditionally associated with the finest Geneva timepieces, and in many ways the most difficult of the decorative arts. These rare timepieces are unique pieces and made to special order with the subject matter chosen by the client. They often include reproductions of famous works of art, portrait paintings, celebrities or even family members of the future owner.
A selection of Patek Philippe’s pocketwatches embellished with enamel miniatures are on permanent exhibition at the prestigious Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, section "Enamelled and engraved pocket watches (1960-2000)", and illustrated in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches, Vol. II, pp. 368 – 381.
François Boucher “Apollon révélant sa divinité à la bergère Issé” (Apollo revealing his divinity to the shepherdess Issé), oil on canvas, 129x157.5 cm., Musée des Beaux Arts de Tours, France
Narrated by Ovid (The Metamorphoses, VI, 124) the story of Apollo in love with the shepherdess Issé became popular in France by the opera created by Destouches in 1697. The Marquise de Pompadour presumably ordered the painting representing her under the features of Issé she played at Versailles in 1749 with the viscount of Rohan in the role of Apollo.
François Boucher (1703-1770)
Trained by his father, a lace designer, Boucher won the Prix de Rome in 1723. He was influenced by the works of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Peter Paul Rubens, and his teacher François Le Moyne.
Boucher first became famous with his sensuous and light-hearted mythological paintings and pastoral landscapes. He executed important decorative commissions for the queen at Versailles and for his friend and patron, Mme de Pompadour, at Versailles, Marly, and Bellevue. In 1765 he was named director of the Royal Academy and held the title of first painter to King Louis XV.
During the 1740s and ’50s Boucher’s elegant and refined but playful style became the hallmark of the court of Louis XV. His work was characterized by the use of delicate colours, gently modelled forms, facile technique, and light-hearted subject matter. Boucher is generally acclaimed as one of the great draftsmen of the 18th century, particularly in his handling of the female nude.
He is also famous for his saying: "La nature est trop verte et mal éclairée" (nature is too green and badly lit).
According to our researches, watch no. 932’117 and stand “Italian Renaissance” made their first public appearance on 7 June 1999 at Antiquorum’s Important Jewelry, Watches and Wristwatches auction in Hong Kong, lot 127, with original fitted box, invoice, and “Originally, two watches of this type were purchased by Mr. Moradpour with two different watch holders. According to the invoice and certificate, one of the sets had a watch holder entitled "Lion" with the enamelled scene on the watch depicting a pastoral scene of Patrician life, while the other set had a watch holder entitled "Italian Renaissance" with the enamelled scene on the watch depicting Apollo and Isee. The two watches were subsequently switched at the request of the owner's son who was to receive one of these sets as a gift. Therefore, the set now offered for sale has the "Italian Renaissance" watch holder together with the watch of which the enamelled scene depicts a pastoral scene of Patrician life.”
The whereabouts of the present “Apollon & Issé” watch and “Lion” stand were unknown until May 2018 when consigned for this auction after more than 30 years in the collection of the late Claude Nobs, prominently exhibited in his mythical Chalet “Le Picotin” and admired by the countless famous artists which he entertained after their performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
The present dress watch with hand-painted enamel miniature and the finally crafted gold lion are works their own right. These two unique masterpieces exemplify Patek Philippe’s savoir-faire not only in finest watchmaking but also in enamelling, jewelling and goldsmithing, all specialities in which the manufacture has always held a prominent position.
The combination of provenance, history, rarity, aesthetics and excellent overall condition render this set a superb trophy for collectors of unique timepieces and old masters alike.
G. Menni
The enamel miniature on the present watch is signed by one of Patek Philippe’s foremost enamellists, G. Menni, who, along with Suzanne Rohr, was one of the most reputable enamellers in the field. It is after François Boucher’s “Apollon révélant sa divinité à la bergère Issé”, Musée des Beaux Arts Tours, France.
Working in Geneva in the late 20th century, G. Menni painted several enamel miniatures for Patek Philippe, including famous works such as Canaletto’s “Canale Grande” in 1984, Albert Samuel Anker's “The Village School” in 1987, Renoir’s “Déjeuner des Canotiers” in 1990, and Picasso’s "Seated Harlequin" in 1993. One of the few artists able to perpetuate the supremely exacting art of miniature painting on enamel, in her hands the secret alchemy of the coloured enamels is offering a second life of unequalled depth and finesse to some of the world's greatest art treasures.
For centuries, fine enamelling has decorated and enriched watches, jewellery and objects d'art. Patek Philippe maintains this rare craft of miniature enamelling, traditionally associated with the finest Geneva timepieces, and in many ways the most difficult of the decorative arts. These rare timepieces are unique pieces and made to special order with the subject matter chosen by the client. They often include reproductions of famous works of art, portrait paintings, celebrities or even family members of the future owner.
A selection of Patek Philippe’s pocketwatches embellished with enamel miniatures are on permanent exhibition at the prestigious Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, section "Enamelled and engraved pocket watches (1960-2000)", and illustrated in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches, Vol. II, pp. 368 – 381.
François Boucher “Apollon révélant sa divinité à la bergère Issé” (Apollo revealing his divinity to the shepherdess Issé), oil on canvas, 129x157.5 cm., Musée des Beaux Arts de Tours, France
Narrated by Ovid (The Metamorphoses, VI, 124) the story of Apollo in love with the shepherdess Issé became popular in France by the opera created by Destouches in 1697. The Marquise de Pompadour presumably ordered the painting representing her under the features of Issé she played at Versailles in 1749 with the viscount of Rohan in the role of Apollo.
François Boucher (1703-1770)
Trained by his father, a lace designer, Boucher won the Prix de Rome in 1723. He was influenced by the works of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Peter Paul Rubens, and his teacher François Le Moyne.
Boucher first became famous with his sensuous and light-hearted mythological paintings and pastoral landscapes. He executed important decorative commissions for the queen at Versailles and for his friend and patron, Mme de Pompadour, at Versailles, Marly, and Bellevue. In 1765 he was named director of the Royal Academy and held the title of first painter to King Louis XV.
During the 1740s and ’50s Boucher’s elegant and refined but playful style became the hallmark of the court of Louis XV. His work was characterized by the use of delicate colours, gently modelled forms, facile technique, and light-hearted subject matter. Boucher is generally acclaimed as one of the great draftsmen of the 18th century, particularly in his handling of the female nude.
He is also famous for his saying: "La nature est trop verte et mal éclairée" (nature is too green and badly lit).