Austrian gold and enamel oriental harp-form watch Circa 1830

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Kenmerk
AS1768
Diameter
-
Estimate
€ 5.000 - 10.000
Price sold
€ 5.300

Unsigned gold and enamel harp-form watch from Vienna
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An Austrian gold and enamel watch in the shape of an oriental harp, circa 1830. This watch features a gilded full plate movement with a later converted lever escapement, as well as a decoratively pierced and engraved balance bridge, silver regulation plate, and fusee and chain. The dial is white enamel with Roman numerals and an aperture for winding. The case is made of gold and enamel in the form of an oriental harp, with chased and engraved details overlaid with translucent green and red enamels. It also includes opaque white enamel banding, engraved gold trophies of music, and a soundboard painted in white against a translucent blue enamel ground. Additionally, it has applied diamond-set star and crescent motifs and a curved keyboard with alternating enamel bands of red, green, and white enamel, ending with a leopard’s head.
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Length: 71mm
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Signed: No name
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The movement is fully wound but not running. There are some blank holes on the backplate from the movement’s conversion from verge to lever. The catch for securing the movement in place is lacking. The dial may have been replaced. The case has repairs in soft enamel throughout, with some chips and losses. There are also some chips around the base of the strings on the soundboard.
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Two similarly decorated harps are displayed at the Patek Philippe Museum, with inventory numbers S-62 and S-397. These can be seen in the book “The Emergence of the Portable Watch” by P. Friess, part of the museum’s collection, on page 425.

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