96th Auction
2017/11/18
Lot 82
Rossel-Bautte & Cie. à Genève, Case No. 77306, 70 x 49 x 27 mm, circa 1855
An attractive gold enamel box with concealed timepiece adorned with amethysts and diamonds
Case: 18k gold, enamel, amethysts and diamonds. Dial: enamel. Movm.: bridge movement, keywind, cylinder escapement, brass ring balance.
The delicate cartouche-shaped box is finely moulded around the edges. The top is decorated with engine-turned pattern and translucent green enamel; it has two superimposed stars composed of amythysts and diamonds in the centre. The lid opens when a little button on the front is pressed and reveals the lavishly engraved plate with the central movement. The floor is ornamented with exquisite engine-turned pattern and additional floral engraving, and the initials GC.
Jean-Francois Bautte (1772-1837) was the most distinguished watchmaker and retailer in Geneva of his time. Shortly after his death in 1837, Bautte’s son Jacques Bautte and son-in-law Jean-Samuel Rossel formed the company Jean-François Bautte & Cie., retailer of timepieces and jewellery. From 1855 on the company traded as Rossel-Bautte & Cie., and from 1860 on as Rossel & Fils. In 1906 the company was taken over by Constant Girard-Gallet, the owner of Swiss watch manufacturer Girard-Perregaux in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The Girard-Perregaux Museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds owns several creations from the house of Bautte.
An attractive gold enamel box with concealed timepiece adorned with amethysts and diamonds
Case: 18k gold, enamel, amethysts and diamonds. Dial: enamel. Movm.: bridge movement, keywind, cylinder escapement, brass ring balance.
The delicate cartouche-shaped box is finely moulded around the edges. The top is decorated with engine-turned pattern and translucent green enamel; it has two superimposed stars composed of amythysts and diamonds in the centre. The lid opens when a little button on the front is pressed and reveals the lavishly engraved plate with the central movement. The floor is ornamented with exquisite engine-turned pattern and additional floral engraving, and the initials GC.
Jean-Francois Bautte (1772-1837) was the most distinguished watchmaker and retailer in Geneva of his time. Shortly after his death in 1837, Bautte’s son Jacques Bautte and son-in-law Jean-Samuel Rossel formed the company Jean-François Bautte & Cie., retailer of timepieces and jewellery. From 1855 on the company traded as Rossel-Bautte & Cie., and from 1860 on as Rossel & Fils. In 1906 the company was taken over by Constant Girard-Gallet, the owner of Swiss watch manufacturer Girard-Perregaux in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The Girard-Perregaux Museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds owns several creations from the house of Bautte.
estimated
7.500—10.000 €
Price realized
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