Lot 111

Varin a Chalon

Summer

A remarkably decorated French verge pocket watch "á quatre couleurs" with quarter repeater and corresponding richly decorated chatelaine

The distinctive harvest motif on the back symbolises summer and shows a basket with fruit and flowers a rake, a shovel, a scythe and a straw hat in four-colour gold against a radial guilloche pattern. The gilt brass chatelaine shows similar ornamentation and symbolism.

Pierre Varin was a watch retailer and watchmaker in Châlons-sur-Marne. He was born around 1715. The Varin family was a family of artists based in Châlons, including pewterers, engravers, medallists and, in the 19th century, photographers. Pierre Varin died on 14 March 1786.