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Swiss. A highly rare and unusual 18K gold, enamel and diamond-set butterfly form watch, made for the Turkish market
Lot 143

Swiss. A highly rare and unusual 18K gold, enamel and diamond-set butterfly form watch, made for the Turkish market

UNSIGNED, CIRCA 1820

Fermé16 May 2011

Prix réalisé

CHF 42,500

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Swiss. A highly rare and unusual 18K gold, enamel and diamond-set butterfly form watch, made for the Turkish market
Unsigned, circa 1820
Gilt-finished verge movement, chain fusée, pierced and engraved balance cock, white enamel dial, Arabic numerals, blued steel moon-style hands, hinged and concealed within the polychrome enamel butterfly form case with six diamonds on the wings and six diamonds on the body, red paste-set eyes, black and yellow enamel rim, unsigned
34 mm. wide & 25 mm. overall length

Note du spécialiste

With a short length of gold chain and gold and floral enamel decorated key.

Form watches made for the Turkish market are extremely rare and are generally known in the shape of a nanga, an ancient form of a harp. To the best of our knowledge, the present example is the only pendant watch in the shape of a butterfly destined for an Ottoman dignitary and most likely manufactured by special order to have appeared at public auction.