Lot 262

IWC / Intern. Watch Co. / Ernst Fuchs

Scarabaeus Fuchs

A Schaffhausen hunting case pocket watch, Scarabaeus-Fuchs limited edition no. 161/5000 in near mint condition; case decoration after designs by the famous artist Prof. Ernst Fuchs of Vienna

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The front of the case shows a swirling pattern symbolising day and sunlight; in the centre sits a scarab beetle, a creature of the day that faces the sun ("The scarab beetle has the iridescent colours of a rainbow. It shows the spectral composition of sunlight", Prof. Fuchs). The back is decorated with a central embossed face surrounded by stylised stars, symbolising night ("The reverse side is the opposite of the scarab: the night. It is the light of the stars and the reflected light of the moon, of the dead stars", Prof. Fuchs). The dial is a carved face of the sun framed by a chapter ring with engraved Arabic numerals. The exquisite movement exhibits elaborately hand-engraved gilt bridges decorated with swirls.

Ernst Fuchs (1930-2015) was an Austrian painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, architect, stage designer, composer, poet, singer and one of the founders of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism.