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Lot Essay
The present watch is one of the famed series of exquisite and unique hand-painted enamel watches that are amongst the most rarified decorative timepieces made by Patek Philippe in the 1960s and 1970s.
Very few enamellists are masters of the art and even fewer could be entrusted to create pieces of high enough craftsmanship to bear the Patek Philippe name. Of these mainly female enamellists, the most notable are L. Pellarin-Leroy (who created the present watch), M. Bischoff and Suzanne Rohr. Due to their work for Patek Philippe they have become famous and highly collectable in their own right, watches such as the present lot are fiercely contested on the infrequent occasions that they appear in the auction rooms.
Research shows L. Pellarin-Leroy probably made in the region of two dozen miniature enamels, often her work follows a country theme either copied from or in the manner of 17th and 18th century old master paintings. Interestingly and further underlining her mastery of the art, Mme. L. Pellarin-Leroy was one of the artists entrusted to make the enamel panels for Patek Philippe’s iconic solar dome clocks.
The enamel scene of present watch is prominently signed by Mme. Pellarin-Leroy and furthermore the gold case bezels and bow are engraved with foliage in order to complement the pastoral nature of the enamel, an attractive feature rarely seen on such pieces.
The Patek Philippe “Italian Renaissance” Watch Stand
This extraordinary solid 18K gold stand displaying the watch in its full glory is a great rarity and a statement piece of craftsmanship. Signed and christened with its own reference number 9624, it is made in the Italian renaissance style richly decorated with translucent blue enamel and set with diamonds and lapis-lazuli.
Almost certainly this is a unique piece and is thought to have been commissioned by the original owner of the present watch for another Patek Philippe enamel watch “Apollo & Isee” bought at the same time. Originally the present watch “Country Scene of Patrician Life” was displayed on different unique stand called the “Lion”. However when the original owner gifted the present watch to his son he decided that the present “Italian Rennaisance” stand was more appropriate to display “Country Scene of Patrician Life” and thus the stands were exchanged at that time. 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.”
This stunning pairing of a unique enamelled watch by one of Patek Philipe’s most esteemed enamellists and a lavish probably unique special-order stand presents the once in a generation opportunity for the connoisseur to acquire this highly exclusive Patek Philippe work of art.
Ref. 866⁄22 is illustrated in the ‘Blue Book 5’, 2021 edition by Eric Tortella, page 138
Very few enamellists are masters of the art and even fewer could be entrusted to create pieces of high enough craftsmanship to bear the Patek Philippe name. Of these mainly female enamellists, the most notable are L. Pellarin-Leroy (who created the present watch), M. Bischoff and Suzanne Rohr. Due to their work for Patek Philippe they have become famous and highly collectable in their own right, watches such as the present lot are fiercely contested on the infrequent occasions that they appear in the auction rooms.
Research shows L. Pellarin-Leroy probably made in the region of two dozen miniature enamels, often her work follows a country theme either copied from or in the manner of 17th and 18th century old master paintings. Interestingly and further underlining her mastery of the art, Mme. L. Pellarin-Leroy was one of the artists entrusted to make the enamel panels for Patek Philippe’s iconic solar dome clocks.
The enamel scene of present watch is prominently signed by Mme. Pellarin-Leroy and furthermore the gold case bezels and bow are engraved with foliage in order to complement the pastoral nature of the enamel, an attractive feature rarely seen on such pieces.
The Patek Philippe “Italian Renaissance” Watch Stand
This extraordinary solid 18K gold stand displaying the watch in its full glory is a great rarity and a statement piece of craftsmanship. Signed and christened with its own reference number 9624, it is made in the Italian renaissance style richly decorated with translucent blue enamel and set with diamonds and lapis-lazuli.
Almost certainly this is a unique piece and is thought to have been commissioned by the original owner of the present watch for another Patek Philippe enamel watch “Apollo & Isee” bought at the same time. Originally the present watch “Country Scene of Patrician Life” was displayed on different unique stand called the “Lion”. However when the original owner gifted the present watch to his son he decided that the present “Italian Rennaisance” stand was more appropriate to display “Country Scene of Patrician Life” and thus the stands were exchanged at that time. 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.”
This stunning pairing of a unique enamelled watch by one of Patek Philipe’s most esteemed enamellists and a lavish probably unique special-order stand presents the once in a generation opportunity for the connoisseur to acquire this highly exclusive Patek Philippe work of art.
Ref. 866⁄22 is illustrated in the ‘Blue Book 5’, 2021 edition by Eric Tortella, page 138