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Lot 68
Swiss. A fine, rare and unusual 18K gold openface quarter repeating cylinder watch with two jaquemarts, diamond-set Russian Imperial double-headed eagle and presentation box
UNSIGNED, CIRCA 1820
Closed16 May 2011
Price Realised
CHF 105,000
More Information
Specialist note
With period fitted brown leather and gilt floral and foliage decorated presentation box.
The presence of the double-headed eagle, the coat-of-arms of the Russian Empire, suggests that the present watch was ordered by the Imperial Court and given as a reward to a deserving officer or servant.
Originally a Byzantine symbol, the double-headed eagle was adopted by the Russian tsars in the 15th century. The two heads face East and West symbolize the geographic position of Russia, a symbol seen as an allegory sometimes for unity, and sometimes for absolute monarchy, a form of government in which the king and queen have power over everything. Most commonly, the double-headed eagle is associated with the monarchy, featuring prominently in the Russian Imperial and Coronation regalia.
The presence of the double-headed eagle, the coat-of-arms of the Russian Empire, suggests that the present watch was ordered by the Imperial Court and given as a reward to a deserving officer or servant.
Originally a Byzantine symbol, the double-headed eagle was adopted by the Russian tsars in the 15th century. The two heads face East and West symbolize the geographic position of Russia, a symbol seen as an allegory sometimes for unity, and sometimes for absolute monarchy, a form of government in which the king and queen have power over everything. Most commonly, the double-headed eagle is associated with the monarchy, featuring prominently in the Russian Imperial and Coronation regalia.