97th Auction

2018/5/12

Lot 394

French, 61 x 39 mm, circa 1830
An extremely rare, decorative pocket watch key with cameo "The Hunt"
Case: large carved medallion of sardonyx, gilt frame, revolving pendant.
One side shows a waterside area with a gun dog and a duck, the other a powerful stag. The gilt frame is decorated with applied and chased ornaments.
This key is made of three-layered sardonyx, which lends itself admiration to the engravers' talent. They made good use of the alternating white and red-brown stripes of sardonyx, a variety of chalcedony.
Similar watch keys are illustrated and described in: "The Keys of Time" by Yves Droz, France 2012, p. 84-85.

Sold

estimated
1.1001.800 €
Price realized
1.300 €