BAILLON, Paris. No 4 in case
A small and fine quality enamel and diamond set watch by this famous Paris maker, circa 1765.
£1,995.00
Engraved gold case, with painted enamel scene on the rear, the bezel set with rose cut diamonds matching the hands, dial, case push and finger piece, the case marked indistinctly HF, twice, and numbered 4. Fullplate fusee movement with typical French balance-bridge, the top set with steel coquerette. Verge (recoil) escapement having the usual adjustment for drops. Steel balance, spiral balance-spring. Diamond set convex enamel dial with winding at II and matching original diamond set hands. 32 mm diameter.
Jean Baptiste Baillon, Place Dauphine, Paris, watchmaker to Marie Antoinette and other French Royals. His work can be found in many European museums – see also Tardy’s Dictionaire… pages 21-23. Similar French watches with this or similar scenes are known, but few are of this best Paris quality.
Often associated with Madame Pompadour, the sexual iconography of a young girl with a canary either inside or, as here, outside its cage was well known at the time, signalling that this watch was almost certainly a gift from a man to his established lover, or perhaps just of wishful thinking. It would make just such a wonderful gift now, two hundred and fifty years later.
In fine original condition, but the enamel, as with English work, does not have a transparent overglaze. There are now numerous light scratches and some loss of image right at the centre, but this could always be touched in by a specialist restorer if wanted. The dial also has a small chip at the winding hole, now restored. The movement is in lovely condition. Serviced and guaranteed.
Item available
Description
Engraved gold case, with painted enamel scene on the rear, the bezel set with rose cut diamonds matching the hands, dial, case push and finger piece, the case marked indistinctly HF, twice, and numbered 4. Fullplate fusee movement with typical French balance-bridge, the top set with steel coquerette. Verge (recoil) escapement having the usual adjustment for drops. Steel balance, spiral balance-spring. Diamond set convex enamel dial with winding at II and matching original diamond set hands. 32 mm diameter.
Jean Baptiste Baillon, Place Dauphine, Paris, watchmaker to Marie Antoinette and other French Royals. His work can be found in many European museums – see also Tardy’s Dictionaire… pages 21-23. Similar French watches with this or similar scenes are known, but few are of this best Paris quality.
Often associated with Madame Pompadour, the sexual iconography of a young girl with a canary either inside or, as here, outside its cage was well known at the time, signalling that this watch was almost certainly a gift from a man to his established lover, or perhaps just of wishful thinking. It would make just such a wonderful gift now, two hundred and fifty years later.
In fine original condition, but the enamel, as with English work, does not have a transparent overglaze. There are now numerous light scratches and some loss of image right at the centre, but this could always be touched in by a specialist restorer if wanted. The dial also has a small chip at the winding hole, now restored. The movement is in lovely condition. Serviced and guaranteed.