Lot 86

French, 27 x 27 mm, 15 g, circa 1820
An extremely decorative gold enamel pendant watch in the shape of a tufted pansy
Case: 18k gold, the front cover opaque polychrome enamelled, a cut diamond to the centre and a border of half pearls around the edge. The back lid with translucent enamel and champlevé decorations with three centred split pearls. Dial: enamel, Arabic numerals, gold spade hands. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, firegilt, chain/fusee, three-arm brass balance, fine florally engraved and pierced balance bridge.
Because its name means "thought", the pansy was chosen as a symbol of Freethought in France and Austria. Humanists use it too, as the pansy's current appearance was developed from the heartsease by two centuries of intentional crossbreeding of wild plant hybrids.

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