Patek Philippe - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: SEVEN Hong Kong Monday, November 26, 2018 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1956
    Reference No: 703
    Movement No: 872'671
    Case No: 206
    Model Name: "Rooster"
    Material: Gilt brass and cloisonné enamel
    Calibre: 17”250, photo-electric, 28 jewels
    Dimensions: 220mm. Height
    Signed: Dial and movement signed, movement and case numbered
    Accessories: With red Patek Philippe fitted presentation box also signed by retailer Joyeria Ricciardi, Buenos Aires- Mar del Playa- Paris. Further delivered with Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with cloisonné enamel “Rooster” in 1956 and its subsequent sale on July 11th, 1963

  • Catalogue Essay

    The polychrome enamel dome features a goddess holding an orb in each hand with a moon on one side and the sun on the other. Set against a dark blue-green enamel background, the goddess has luminous red flowing hair and set in a dark purple lunette. The white crescent moon is set within a dark purple lunette, as is the orange enamel sun. The scene is enhanced with white enamel stars and green leaves. The case with four polychrome cloisonné enamel panels each with a representation of a bird. The colors from the dome repeat throughout the four panels. The Rooster is symbolic of the beginning of the new day, as well as resurrection, while the owl is a symbol of night.

    Apart from the roosters, the dome clock also depicts owls, doves and a goddess who exudes a sense of decorum unlikely to be missed by its beholders. According to our research, the goddess depicted here might have been Athena. In Greek mythology, a little owl (Athene noctua) traditionally represents or accompanies Athena. Athena is also traditionally related to roosters. According to Nilsson, Athena was a bird goddess in early times. In very nice original condition, the present clock is signed by the enameller Derrcle and it is the the only known Patek Philippe enamel dome clock by the artist. The present dome clock is a fine example of the cloisonné enamel clocks produced by Patek Philippe during the mid-20th-century. This clocks featured an electronically wound movement powered through the domed solar cells an innovation by the firms Electronic Division, which opened in 1948.

  • Artist Biography

    Patek Philippe

    Swiss • 1839

    Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.

    Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.

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969

Ref. 703
An extremely fine and unique gilt brass solar power dome clock with cloisonné enamel scene “Rooster” by Derrcle, with Patek Philippe fitted presentation box

1956
220mm. Height
Dial and movement signed, movement and case numbered

Estimate
HK$780,000 - 1,404,000 
€103,000-155,000
$120,000-180,000

Sold for HK$887,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
thomasperazzi@phillips.com

Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
ziyongho@phillips.com

Jill Chen
Specialist
+852 2318 2033
jillchen@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: SEVEN

Hong Kong Auction 27 November 2018