91st Auction
2015/5/16
Lot 533
Daniel de St. Leu "Watchmaker to her Majesty", London, Movement No. 15047, 65 mm, 214 g, circa 1785
An impressive pair-cased verge pocket watch with quarter hour self strike and "repoussé" case studded with diamonds for the Ottoman market
Case: outer case - 18K gold, à goutte, the back side with chased decor: bouquet of summer flowers, the borders with chased foliage, diamond-studded silver bezel, large lateral hinge. Inner case - 18K gold, pierced and florally engraved border, rear bell, lever to set strike/not strike "Strick/Silent" at "3". Dial: enamel, Ottoman numerals, signed, pierced and stone-set hands. Movm.: full plate movement, applied floral ornaments, signed, gilt, chain/fusee, solid circular movement pillars, 2 hammers, gilt, frosted and signed movement protectian cap, three-arm brass balance, fine florally engraved and pierced balance cock.
Daniel de St. Leu
Daniel de St. Leu originally came from Geneva and worked from 1753 to 1797; he created some of the most beautiful and intricate watches of the eighteenth century. In 1765 he was appointed watchmaker to Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III - the fact that all of de St. Leu's watches after this year are either signed 'Sevt. to her Majesty', or 'Watch Maker to her Majesty' is proof that he held this title for the rest of his life. De St. Leu was specialized in the production of watches for the wealthy Ottoman market, where the clientele wanted their watches to be pieces of jewellery, often in lavish gold cases with elaborate decoration and set with precious stones. In the 18th century, English watches were very much in demand on the Ottoman market and exported in great numbers from England. R. Rolt states in 'A New Dictionary of Trade and Commerce', 1756, that "Great quantities of watches are exported to Asia, particularly to Turkey; where they serve more for ornaments like pictures in rooms, than for use in pockets." Daniel de St. Leu created movements of superior quality and put them in extravagant cases - the perfect timepieces for the Ottoman market.
An impressive pair-cased verge pocket watch with quarter hour self strike and "repoussé" case studded with diamonds for the Ottoman market
Case: outer case - 18K gold, à goutte, the back side with chased decor: bouquet of summer flowers, the borders with chased foliage, diamond-studded silver bezel, large lateral hinge. Inner case - 18K gold, pierced and florally engraved border, rear bell, lever to set strike/not strike "Strick/Silent" at "3". Dial: enamel, Ottoman numerals, signed, pierced and stone-set hands. Movm.: full plate movement, applied floral ornaments, signed, gilt, chain/fusee, solid circular movement pillars, 2 hammers, gilt, frosted and signed movement protectian cap, three-arm brass balance, fine florally engraved and pierced balance cock.
Daniel de St. Leu
Daniel de St. Leu originally came from Geneva and worked from 1753 to 1797; he created some of the most beautiful and intricate watches of the eighteenth century. In 1765 he was appointed watchmaker to Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III - the fact that all of de St. Leu's watches after this year are either signed 'Sevt. to her Majesty', or 'Watch Maker to her Majesty' is proof that he held this title for the rest of his life. De St. Leu was specialized in the production of watches for the wealthy Ottoman market, where the clientele wanted their watches to be pieces of jewellery, often in lavish gold cases with elaborate decoration and set with precious stones. In the 18th century, English watches were very much in demand on the Ottoman market and exported in great numbers from England. R. Rolt states in 'A New Dictionary of Trade and Commerce', 1756, that "Great quantities of watches are exported to Asia, particularly to Turkey; where they serve more for ornaments like pictures in rooms, than for use in pockets." Daniel de St. Leu created movements of superior quality and put them in extravagant cases - the perfect timepieces for the Ottoman market.
estimated
17.000—25.000 €
Price realized
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