It seems a particularly long time since Antiquorum had their last auction of fine timepieces back in December, so it's exciting to report that its upcoming Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces sale is to be held on Saturday February 26 at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong.
The preview will be held at Antiquorum Auctioneers' showroom in Hong Kong from Wednesday, February 23 to Friday, February 25, and if you're able it might be worth a look, as more than 450 carefully selected investment-grade timepieces will be offered during this first sale of the year.
Fine timepieces are always visually fascinating, but some are discrete and elegant whilst others are embellished and ostentatious. The likely top lots for this auction fit into the latter category.
 Ostrich fan watch (Click to enlarge) |
The overall highlight of the auction is The Ostrich Fan Watch - an Emperor Napoleon III Presentation Czapek & Cie, Place Vendôme 23 (Paris), No. 1840.
This truly magnificent and precious fan is one of very few known of this type. It is in 18K gold and painted on enamel with a pearl and rose-cut diamond-set, white ostrich feather fan with a concealed watch and pencil.
The present example is particularly rare, being signed by Czapek & Cie and made for presentation by Napoleon III (1808-1873), circa 1855. It is expected to sell for HK$800,000-1,200,000 (US$100,000-150,000 or €80,000-120,000).
Another exceptional timepiece being offered is The Music of Love - Repeating Musical Watch with See-Saw and Concealed Erotic Automatons by Henry Capt, Genève, made circa 1810.
 Capt musical and erotic watch automaton |
It is an extremely fine and equally rare 18K gold and painted on enamel, two-train, quarter-repeating musical watch with two automaton scenes - a see-saw automaton scene on the dial plate and a concealed erotic automaton scene.
Watches with see-saw automatons are extremely rare and this watch, with its additional concealed erotic automaton, is one of very few known examples made by Henry Capt with two automaton scenes and is estimated at HK$800,000-1,200,000 (US$100,0000-150,000 or €80,000-120,000).
Away from the auction, admirers of fine timepieces will be intrigued to know that a unique and fantastic watch made by Grieb & Benzinger is currently available.
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