Attractive Swiss duplex for the Chinese market Circa 1850

Silver gilt, enamel and pearl set centre seconds watch
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A fine and attractive Swiss silver gilt, enamel and pearl set center seconds watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1850. Tixier calibre gilt finished finely chased and engraved scroll decorated cut out movement, Jacot type duplex escapement. Glazed display cuvette. White enamel dial and Roman numerals and centre seconds. Case with ribbed band, pearl set bezel, rim, pendant and bow, back decorated with a finely painted polychrome enamel bouquet of flowers on green enamel ground. The outside rim of the back and bezel numbered.
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Diameter: 57.5 mm
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Signed: No name
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From their first arrival in China around 1700, lavishly decorated watches manufactured for the Far East took incontestably a prominent position in the league of the most sumptuous timepieces ever made, highly coveted treasures, guarded like gold by their fortunate owners ever since.
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By the late 18th century, Chinese patrons requested only superlative watches, featuring finely decorated movements and also complications including repeating, music or automatons. To satisfy their desire for aesthetics, the cases had to be finely enamelled with motifs representing nature or classical scenes, set with pearls and precious stones. Many of these marvels were made for the Imperial Palace in Beijing where they can be admired still today.
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Often lost over the centuries and in particular during the tumultuous times in China, notably the first opium war in 1840 followed by the occupation of Beijing, the second opium war and the abdication of the last Emperor in 1912, to name just some, the appearance of a single ‘survivor’ of this extremely scarce species is always greeted enthusiastically by the connoisseurs.
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This timepiece was serviced in a most professional manner between 1961 and 1962 by the celebrated watchmaker Louis Cottier of Carouge, Geneva, best known for his invention of the world time system.