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Joan Dellavos, Prag. A fine and rare gold key wind open face pocket watch with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid Circa 1765 image 1
Joan Dellavos, Prag. A fine and rare gold key wind open face pocket watch with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid Circa 1765 image 2
Joan Dellavos, Prag. A fine and rare gold key wind open face pocket watch with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid Circa 1765 image 3
Joan Dellavos, Prag. A fine and rare gold key wind open face pocket watch with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid Circa 1765 image 4
Joan Dellavos, Prag. A fine and rare gold key wind open face pocket watch with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid Circa 1765 image 5
Thumbnail of Joan Dellavos, Prag. A fine and rare gold key wind open face pocket watch with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid Circa 1765 image 1
Thumbnail of Joan Dellavos, Prag. A fine and rare gold key wind open face pocket watch with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid Circa 1765 image 2
Thumbnail of Joan Dellavos, Prag. A fine and rare gold key wind open face pocket watch with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid Circa 1765 image 3
Thumbnail of Joan Dellavos, Prag. A fine and rare gold key wind open face pocket watch with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid Circa 1765 image 4
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Lot 22
Joan Dellavos, Prag. A fine and rare gold key wind open face pocket watch with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid
Circa 1765
Watches and Wristwatches
22 November 2023, 13:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

£8,000 - £12,000

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Joan Dellavos, Prag. A fine and rare gold key wind open face pocket watch with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid

Date: Circa 1765
Movement: Gilt full plate fusee verge, pierced and engraved balance bridge, ruby end stone, silver regulation, square baluster pillars, No.38
Dial: White enamel, black Roman numerals, black outer minute track with Arabic numeral 5 minute markers, winding aperture at 3, gold Louis hands
Case: Consular form with polychrome enamel scene depicting Venus blindfolding Cupid with an attendant holding one of his arrows set within blue, red and yellow decorative cartouche surround, stirrup pendant and bow
Signed: Movement
Size: 44mm

Footnotes

This superbly enamelled gold watch depicts a scene of Venus blindfolding Cupid and was first offered at auction in 1958 as a 'Bohemian gold and enamel watch'. The style however would imply that even though it is signed by a Prague maker, Johann Dellavos, it is in fact of Genevan origin. The enamel scene to the reverse could possibly be by the enamellist Gedeon Decombaz, who was working in Geneva in 1750, or his school.

Provenance:
Rt. Hon. Marguerite, Lady Hastings and Rt. Hon. Lord Hastings, Sotheby & Cos December 15th 1958 lot 135
T P Camerer Cuss Collection

Literature:
G H Baillie, Watch and Clockmakers of the World, NAG Press, 3rd Edition, page 81, Johann Dellawas Prague, 18th century

Illustrated:
T P Camerer Cuss, Country Life Book of Watches, Country Life, 1967, plate 53 and colour plate III
T P & T A Camerer Cuss, The Camerer Cuss Book of Antique Watches, AC C 1976, plate 61 and colour plate 7

Additional information