Beschreibung:

Edouard Juvet Follow A very rare, exceptionally fine and attractive pair of silver gilt, enamel and pearl-set mirror-image open face center seconds duplex watches with presentation box and winding keys, made for the Chinese market 有喴，非常精細及極度罕有，銀鍍金鑲珍珠，鏡像琺瑯大八件對錶，連號錶殼44007和44008，配跳秒、白色琺瑯錶盤、雕花機芯和複式擒縱結構，中國市場懷錶，約1850年製。附錶盒和鑰匙 Circa 1850 Each 57mm. Diameter Both movements signed, both movements and cases numbered
Manufacturer : Edouard Juvet Year : Circa 1850 Movement No : 44007 and 44008 Case No : 44007 and 44008, cuvette on the second also numbered 08 Model Name : The Serpent Attack Material : Silver gilt, enamel and pearl Calibre : Manual, duplex movement Dimensions : Each 57mm. Diameter Signed : Both movements signed, both movements and cases numbered Accessories : With later wooden presentation box and winding and setting keys Literature : Similar Edouard Juvet watches are illustrated in Antique Chinese Calibre Pocket Watches, Collection of Kiu Tai Yu Museum, see page 216-217 for The Tiger Attack. Catalogue Essay The arrival of Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit priest, in Macau in 1552 may have gone little noticed in the annals of history except for the fact that his admiration and respect for the Chinese culture lead him to study classical Chinese becoming fluent in both the spoken and written forms. As a missionary and scholar in astronomy and cosmology he became known for his scholarship and skills in particular pertaining to solar eclipses. With his speaking abilities, he became the first European to enter the Forbidden City (1601) as an invited counselor to the emperor. Upon his death in 1610, the Wanli Emperor was petitioned to allow Ricci’s body to be buried in Beijing, which at the time prohibited the burial of foreigners. Ricci brought to the Chinese court many riches from the western world, and two that became most cherished were chiming mechanical clocks and enameled pocket watches. The popularity of these fine enamel timepieces became so great that in time there arose an industry for pieces made for the “Chinese Market”. First during the 18th century, manufacturing of these ornate timepieces was centered in England, however by the 19th century the center shifted to Switzerland. The movements were made with decorative and intricate engraved designs appealing to Chinese tastes, and become known as “Chinese Calibers”. Additionally, the cases were decorated in exquisite and elaborate designs such as enamel florals or like the present lot, The Serpent Attack. These two fine watches from the mid-19th century are part of this long tradition. Represented in fine polychrome enamel, the hunt scene features a gentleman and woman in the howdah with a serpent springing from the jungle grass, the elephant firmly grasping the serpent, while the gentleman and driver defend the woman. Sequentially numbered, 44007 and 44008, these two watches have the same scene but when put side by side one realized they are mirror images of each other. These two attractive pocket watches were made by Edouard Juvet (1820-1883), who originally had a workshop in Buttes Switzerland, but later moved his atelier to Fleurier in 1844. Known for his high-quality enamel pocket watches, Juvet is part of a select group of skilled artisans that worked closely with the Chinese market, so much so that his two sons where based in Shanghai with later branches in Tianjin and Ho Chih Minh City. While Chinese Market watches were originally made for the imperial court and nobility, overtime they became more commercialized and available to a larger audience. Today, Chinese enamel watches are highly collectible and desirable both for their exquisite beauty of design and technical duplex escapement. Read More Catalogue Essay 愛德華˙有喴先生 (Edouard Juvet) 1820年出生於瑞士伯恩，家族為瑞士傳統製錶世家，從小便耳濡目染，對製錶有高度天份和強烈的興趣。1844年愛德華˙有喴先生將製錶廠遷移到製錶重鎮佛羅里耶 (Fleurier)後隨即掌握時代的機遇，在清咸豐年間開始製造並銷售大八件懷錶至中國，大受皇親貴族的歡迎，成為當時重要的清朝御用鐘錶品牌之一。 矯大羽大師知名著作「大八件懷錶」裡記載：「有喴」象徵著「有威鎮四方」，從來在中國佔有舉足輕重的地位。由此可想像，當時琺瑯大八件懷錶不僅是奢華品，更是身分的重要象徵。 富藝斯極為興奮為藏家呈獻，此對沉寂於歐洲數十年的中國市場懷錶，原物主悉心收藏，兩枚懷錶皆運行良好、保有原裝錶殼和機芯狀態，鏡像連號大八件對錶十分難得罕有，為近年難得一見的收藏逸品。 Read More