95th Auction
2017/5/6
Lot 462
John Barrel, Swiss Made, Case No. 2403, 54 mm, 121 g, circa 1900
A rare minute repeating hunting case pocket watch with concealed erotic automaton
Case: 18k gold. Dial: enamel. Movm.: bridge movement, 2 hammers / 2 gongs, screw compensation balance.
The watch features an erotic scene that is concealed by the cuvette and shows a couple making love in the open air. The polychrome enamel figures appear in an engraved parkland setting with "Temple de l’Amour" in the background and come to life as soon as the repeater is released.
The Temple de l’Amour (Temple of Cupid, often wrongly translated as temple of love) is a neo-classical columned folly in the gardens of Versailles.
A rare minute repeating hunting case pocket watch with concealed erotic automaton
Case: 18k gold. Dial: enamel. Movm.: bridge movement, 2 hammers / 2 gongs, screw compensation balance.
The watch features an erotic scene that is concealed by the cuvette and shows a couple making love in the open air. The polychrome enamel figures appear in an engraved parkland setting with "Temple de l’Amour" in the background and come to life as soon as the repeater is released.
The Temple de l’Amour (Temple of Cupid, often wrongly translated as temple of love) is a neo-classical columned folly in the gardens of Versailles.
Sold
estimated
6.500—10.000 €
Price realized
7.500 €