Thomas Perazzi
\nHead of Watches, Asia
\n+852 2318 2001
\nWatchesHK@phillips.com

\n","circa","1946","artistInscription","inscribed and dated by Puyi 'It is not dawn yet in the courtyard, the moonlight seeps through the south window. Sitting together by the lamp, the long silent mood endures. Dedicated to my comrade Permyakov in Tokyo on 19 August 1946 by Aisin-Gioro Puyi.' [in Chinese]' left of fan","dimensions","19 x 33.2 cm. (7 1/2 x 13 1/8 in.)","medium","ink and colour on red coloured paper","sigEdtMan","Inscibed and signed in 1946.","mainImagePath","https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/185029_001.jpg","enhancedLotComponents",[480,495,512],{"_481":93,"_482":483,"_484":485,"_486":487,"_488":489},"isActive","componentType","RichText","componentId",13805,"title","DETAIL-HEADER-DISABLED 94538","componentItems",[490],{"_481":93,"_491":492,"_493":494},"componentItemId",17391,"htmlCaption","

‘‘It is not dawn yet in the courtyard, the moonlight seeps through the south window.
\nSitting together by the lamp, the long silent mood endures.
\nDedicated to my comrade Permyakov
\nin Tokyo on 19 August 1946, by Aisin-Gioro Puyi.’’

\n",{"_481":93,"_482":496,"_484":497,"_486":498,"_488":499},"RichTextCarousel",13806,"DETAIL-HEADER-DISABLED 30915",[500,503,506,509],{"_481":93,"_491":501,"_493":502},17392,"

\"\" — Puyi testifies at the Tokyo Trial in 1946. (Georgy Permyakov sat behind) Photo Courtesy Rubezh

\n\n

\n",{"_481":93,"_491":504,"_493":505},17395,"

\"\" — Puyi's arrives Tokyo to testify at the Tokyo Trial in 1946. Photo Courtesy Rubezh

\n\n

\n",{"_481":93,"_491":507,"_493":508},17394,"

\"\" — Examination of the handwritting of Puyi at the USSR Embassy Tokyo, 1946. Photo Courtesy Rubezh

\n\n

\n",{"_481":93,"_491":510,"_493":511},17393,"

\"\" — Puyi with Permyakov (right) and other Soviet officials. Photo Courtesy Rubezh

\n\n

\n",{"_481":93,"_482":483,"_484":513,"_486":514,"_488":515},13807,"DETAIL-HEADER-DISABLED 24656",[516],{"_481":93,"_491":517,"_493":518},17396,"

With those words, Puyi turned a simple fan into a unique collector’s item of extraordinary value.

\n\n

Decorated with white flowers and a peak that resembles Mount Fuji, the Puyi fan’s central motif is

\n\n

(with a dash of historical irony) typically Japanese.
\n

\n\n

This is because Puyi inscribed the fan as a gift to Permyakov while they were in Tokyo. ‘The handwriting, brushwork, style and manner of the inscribed literature confirmed that it was written by Puyi,’ Mr. Wang Wenfeng, author and researcher for the Palace Museum of the Manchurian Regime, writes in an internal report for Phillips. ‘Little of Puyi’s calligraphy is known to exist. This fan serves as an extremely rare—and in all aspects marvellous—example.’
\n

\n\n

The fan has its origins in one of the major events of post-war Japan: the International Military Tribunal of the Far East, known as the Tokyo Trials. From 1946–1948, the Allied victors, including the Soviet Union, tried 28 Japanese Imperial Army officers and government officials on charges of war crimes. A Soviet delegation that included Permyakov accompanied Puyi to Tokyo in August 1946. Bald-headed even in his twenties, Permyakov can be seen with Puyi and other Russians in video from the trial. LINK

\n\n

\nIn his testimony Puyi portrayed himself as a powerless pawn of the Japanese, forced to adopt the Shinto religion and unable to rule his ostensible realm.

\n\n

‘‘Little of Puyi’s calligraphy is known to exist. This fan serves as an extremely rare—and in all aspects marvellous—example.’’
\n—Mr. Wang WenFeng

\n\n

This lot includes a note, dated 4 April 2003, in which Permyakov relates the origins of the fan. After Puyi’s second day of testimony, on the evening of 19 August 1946, the interpreter sat with the prisoner in the garden of the Soviet embassy villa in Tokyo. Puyi was a ‘decent poet,’ Permyakov would recall. He asked the deposed emperor to compose poems on two fans.
\n
\nPuyi inscribed a red fan for Permyakov and a blue one for the interpreter’s wife, Rimma. The couple eventually gave Rimma’s fan to the USSR Academy of Sciences, but they kept the red one.

\n\n

Puyi inscribed the surface with a wuyan jueju (five characters quatrain), a classical Chinese poetry format with four lines to a stanza, each line consisting of five characters, Mr. Wang Wenfeng says.

\n\n

By this time Puyi had spent only a year in the Soviet Union and had little understanding of the

\n\n

government’s attitude toward him, Wang states. No doubt he sought to curry favour by offering precious gifts such as this fan with his personal inscription.

\n","conditionReport","This work is in very good condition overall. All notes below are deemed to be in line with the age of the piece. The surface of the work is bright and clean. There are areas of gentle loss of pigment associated with the creases of the fan’s folds. The bottom of the fan’s first fold is slightly dog-eared. There are sporadic marks deemed to be water or pigment marks on the top portions of some of the fan’s folds, located mainly in the centre. These marks can be seen on the reverse, and are deemed in line with the age and natural ageing of the marks. There are gentle tears to the paper on the reverse, particularly near the wooden portions. An area of paper measuring approx. 3 cm. has folded and come apart from the wooden portions on the reverse. Upon close inspection, the fan’s wooden portions bear slight marks and very minor chips, which are deemed to be in line with its age. Please note that this work was not inspected under Ultraviolet light.","HK080623","auctionCurrency",{"_524":525,"_526":527},"currencyCode","HKD","currencySign","HK$","auction",{"_62":424,"_60":521,"_64":530,"_66":298,"_70":299,"_74":531,"_68":437,"_532":439,"_90":533,"_534":535,"_536":535,"_537":538,"_539":540,"_464":465,"_541":54,"_542":54,"_543":93,"_544":54,"_545":54,"_546":54,"_89":93,"_547":54,"_548":54,"_463":93,"_549":54,"_550":93,"_551":54,"_552":54,"_553":93,"_92":93,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_554":555,"_670":671,"_110":717,"_726":727,"_78":773,"_522":775,"_116":776,"_777":659,"_94":778,"_72":779},"The Imperial Patek Philippe Sale","2023-05-23T11:00:00.000000Z","saleTypeId","https://assets.phillips.com/image/upload/t_Website_AuctionPageHero/v1681179370/auctions/HK080623/HK080623.jpg","contactEmail","WatchesHK@phillips.com","conditionRequestEmail","auctionDetails","

All bidding is subject to Phillips’s Conditions of Sale, as available on our website.
\n

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View & Download e-Catalogue >

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The Imperial Patek Philippe
\nFrom Emperor to Eternity
\n

\n","auctionDetailsSmall","Hong Kong Auction 23 May 2023","enableHighlightsView","enableOnlineCatalogue","endSale","hideSoldLots","isChineseTranslate","isExhibition","isMixedAuction","makeLive","showArtCollector","showBuyButton","showCatalogueDownloadLink","showInquireButton","showPrintCatalogueSection","lots",[556,560,571,589,602,612,622,632,643,652,661],{"_422":404,"_62":424,"_425":557,"_429":430,"_431":432,"_434":435,"_436":437,"_438":439,"_440":441,"_442":239,"_443":444,"_558":477,"_445":446,"_447":448,"_449":450,"_451":54,"_452":54,"_453":54,"_454":455,"_355":456,"_457":54,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_460":54,"_461":54,"_462":93,"_463":93,"_423":239,"_433":180,"_559":239},{"_427":428},"imagePath","weightedLotNumber",{"_422":561,"_62":424,"_425":562,"_429":564,"_431":432,"_434":435,"_436":437,"_438":439,"_440":565,"_442":397,"_443":566,"_558":567,"_445":446,"_447":448,"_449":450,"_451":54,"_452":54,"_453":54,"_454":568,"_355":569,"_457":54,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_460":54,"_461":54,"_462":93,"_463":93,"_423":397,"_433":570,"_559":397},"185030",{"_427":563},"In excess of HKD200,000/USD25,000","https://www.phillips.com/detail/aisingioro-puyi/185030","1-7DHBO2","Manuscript Notebook","https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/185030_001.jpg",140000,952500,"2",{"_422":572,"_62":424,"_425":573,"_429":575,"_431":576,"_434":435,"_436":437,"_438":439,"_440":577,"_442":108,"_443":578,"_558":579,"_445":580,"_447":581,"_449":450,"_451":54,"_452":54,"_453":54,"_454":582,"_355":583,"_457":54,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_460":54,"_461":54,"_462":93,"_463":93,"_584":585,"_586":587,"_423":108,"_433":588,"_559":108},"185028",{"_427":574},"In excess of HKD25,000,000/USD3,000,000","https://www.phillips.com/detail/patek-philippe/185028","WatchAuctionLot","1-7DHBQV","An exceedingly prestigious, historically important and previously unknown platinum triple date wristwatch with small seconds, moon phases, roulette-dial, enamel Arabic numerals, pink gold Feuille hands, former property of the last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Aisin-Gioro Puyi","https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/185028_001.jpg",12634,"Patek Philippe",17500000,48850000,"referenceNo","96QL","modelName","Calatrava","3",{"_422":590,"_62":424,"_425":591,"_429":593,"_431":432,"_434":435,"_436":437,"_438":439,"_440":594,"_442":198,"_443":595,"_558":596,"_445":597,"_447":598,"_449":450,"_451":54,"_452":54,"_453":54,"_454":599,"_355":600,"_457":54,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_460":54,"_461":54,"_462":93,"_463":93,"_423":82,"_433":601,"_559":82},"185031",{"_427":592},"In excess of HKD20,000/USD2,500","https://www.phillips.com/detail/gobulo-runqi/185031","1-7DHBVC","Chinese Scientist","https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/185031_001.jpg",29454,"Gobulo Runqi",14000,152400,"5",{"_422":603,"_62":424,"_425":604,"_429":605,"_431":432,"_434":435,"_436":437,"_438":439,"_440":606,"_442":82,"_443":607,"_558":608,"_445":597,"_447":598,"_449":450,"_451":54,"_452":54,"_453":54,"_454":599,"_355":609,"_457":54,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_460":54,"_461":54,"_462":93,"_463":93,"_423":610,"_433":611,"_559":610},"185032",{"_427":592},"https://www.phillips.com/detail/gobulo-runqi/185032","1-7DHBVL","Dragon Lantern Dance","https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/185032_001.jpg",127000,6,"6",{"_422":613,"_62":424,"_425":614,"_429":615,"_431":432,"_434":435,"_436":437,"_438":439,"_440":616,"_442":610,"_443":617,"_558":618,"_445":597,"_447":598,"_449":450,"_451":54,"_452":54,"_453":54,"_454":599,"_355":619,"_457":54,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_460":54,"_461":54,"_462":93,"_463":93,"_423":620,"_433":621,"_559":620},"185033",{"_427":592},"https://www.phillips.com/detail/gobulo-runqi/185033","1-7DHBVZ","Playing in the classroom (private primary school)","https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/185033_001.jpg",241300,7,"7",{"_422":623,"_62":424,"_425":624,"_429":625,"_431":432,"_434":435,"_436":437,"_438":439,"_440":626,"_442":620,"_443":627,"_558":628,"_445":597,"_447":598,"_449":450,"_451":54,"_452":54,"_453":54,"_454":599,"_355":629,"_457":54,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_460":54,"_461":54,"_462":93,"_463":93,"_423":630,"_433":631,"_559":630},"185034",{"_427":592},"https://www.phillips.com/detail/gobulo-runqi/185034","1-7DHBWD","Lunar New Year","https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/185034_001.jpg",215900,8,"8",{"_422":633,"_62":424,"_425":634,"_429":636,"_431":432,"_434":435,"_436":437,"_438":439,"_440":637,"_442":630,"_443":638,"_558":639,"_445":597,"_447":598,"_449":450,"_451":54,"_452":54,"_453":54,"_454":640,"_355":629,"_457":54,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_460":54,"_461":54,"_462":93,"_463":93,"_423":641,"_433":642,"_559":641},"185035",{"_427":635},"In excess of HKD30,000/USD3,800","https://www.phillips.com/detail/gobulo-runqi/185035","1-7DHBX1","Three works: (i) Arch of chastity and filial piety; (ii) The Great Wall; (iii) Temple of Heaven, Beijing","https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/185035_001.jpg",22000,9,"9",{"_422":644,"_62":424,"_425":645,"_429":646,"_431":432,"_434":435,"_436":437,"_438":439,"_440":647,"_442":641,"_443":648,"_558":649,"_445":597,"_447":598,"_449":450,"_451":54,"_452":54,"_453":54,"_454":640,"_355":600,"_457":54,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_460":54,"_461":54,"_462":93,"_463":93,"_423":650,"_433":651,"_559":650},"185038",{"_427":635},"https://www.phillips.com/detail/gobulo-runqi/185038","1-7DHBZQ","Three works: (i) The Boat Dwellers; (ii) Boats; (iii) Sailing on the Yangtze River","https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/185038_001.jpg",10,"10",{"_422":653,"_62":424,"_425":654,"_429":655,"_431":432,"_434":435,"_436":437,"_438":439,"_440":656,"_442":650,"_443":657,"_558":658,"_445":597,"_447":598,"_449":450,"_451":54,"_452":54,"_453":54,"_454":640,"_355":629,"_457":54,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_460":54,"_461":54,"_462":93,"_463":93,"_423":659,"_433":660,"_559":659},"185041",{"_427":635},"https://www.phillips.com/detail/gobulo-runqi/185041","1-7DHC17","Three works: (i) Cloudy and Rainy Weather; (ii) Watermelon stall, Noodles stall; (iii) Hairdressing, Cart","https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/185041_001.jpg",11,"11",{"_422":662,"_62":424,"_425":663,"_429":664,"_431":432,"_434":435,"_436":437,"_438":439,"_440":665,"_442":659,"_443":666,"_558":667,"_445":597,"_447":598,"_449":450,"_451":54,"_452":54,"_453":54,"_454":599,"_355":668,"_457":54,"_458":54,"_459":93,"_460":54,"_461":54,"_462":93,"_463":93,"_423":154,"_433":669,"_559":154},"185044",{"_427":592},"https://www.phillips.com/detail/gobulo-runqi/185044","1-7DHC28","Two works: (i) Jewelry store tower, The May Banner; (ii) Tea house and shops","https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/185044_001.jpg",165100,"12","highlights",[672,677,681,685,689,693,697,701,705,709,713],{"_558":673,"_486":674,"_675":676},"https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/1_hi.jpg","

AISIN-GIORO PUYI The Red Fan

\n","version","1681180320",{"_558":678,"_486":679,"_675":680},"https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/12_hi.jpg","

AISIN-GIORO PUYI Manuscript Notebook and Confucius’s Analects

\n","1681289065",{"_558":682,"_486":683,"_675":684},"https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/2_hi.jpg","

PATEK PHILIPPE & CO Ref. 96QL

\n","1681180292",{"_558":686,"_486":687,"_675":688},"https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/3_hi.jpg","

GOBULO RUNQI Chinese Scientist

\n","1681180236",{"_558":690,"_486":691,"_675":692},"https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/4_hi.jpg","

GOBULO RUNQI The Dragon Lantern Dance

\n","1681180225",{"_558":694,"_486":695,"_675":696},"https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/5_hi.jpg","

GOBULO RUNQI Playing in the classroom (private primary school)

\n","1681180184",{"_558":698,"_486":699,"_675":700},"https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/6_hi.jpg","

GOBULO RUNQI Lunar New Year

\n","1681179869",{"_558":702,"_486":703,"_675":704},"https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/7a_hi.jpg","

GOBULO RUNQI Three works:(i) Arch of chastity and filial piety; (ii) The Great Wall;(iii) Temple of Heaven, Beijing

\n","1681288329",{"_558":706,"_486":707,"_675":708},"https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/8_hi.jpg","

GOBULO RUNQI Three works:(i) The Boat Dwellers; (ii) Boats;(iii) Sailing on the Yangtze River

\n","1681179791",{"_558":710,"_486":711,"_675":712},"https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/9_hi.jpg","

GOBULO RUNQI Three works:(i) Cloudy and Rainy Weather; (ii) Watermelon stall, Noodles stall;(iii) Hairdressing, Cart

\n","1681179759",{"_558":714,"_486":715,"_675":716},"https://assets.phillips.com/auctions/HK080623/10_hi.jpg","

GOBULO RUNQI Two works:(i) Jewelry store tower, The May Banner; (ii) Tea house and shops

\n","1681179727",{"_112":718,"_114":719,"_116":720,"_127":723},"2023-05-17T16:00:00.000000Z","2023-05-22T16:00:00.000000Z",{"_118":298,"_120":310,"_122":721,"_164":722,"_124":315},"G/F, WKCDA Tower Cultural District","8 Austin Rd W",[724],{"_130":318,"_132":725,"_134":135,"_136":171},"Thursday","articles",[728,749,763],{"_729":155,"_486":730,"_731":732,"_733":734,"_735":736,"_737":738,"_739":740,"_741":742,"_442":450,"_743":744,"_745":746,"_747":748},"section","The Imperial Patek Philippe | A Short Documentary","body","

\n\n

Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is proud to present The Imperial Patek Philippe | A Short Documentary. Discover the extraordinary bond between Aisin-Gioro Puyi — the last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty — and his Russian interpreter, Georgy Permyakov. The Imperial Patek Philippe explores this unlikely friendship, symbolized by a series of gifts made by Emperor Puyi during his years held captive in a Soviet camp. PHILLIPS joins with experts from America, United Kingdom and China to unpack the provenance of such remarkable objects. Together, their curiosity represents only a portion of the global interest in this astonishing story. Written and Directed by Arthur Touchot.

\n\n

\n","publishDate","2023-05-10T08:00:00.000000Z","authorCredit","Arthur Touchot","coverPosX",55,"coverPosY",59,"articleUrl","https://www.phillips.com/article/121161771/the-imperial-patek-philippe-a-short-documentary","auctionEditorialID",1827,"editorialID",4206,"flocklerID",121161771,{"_750":751,"_729":155,"_752":753,"_486":754,"_731":755,"_733":756,"_735":757,"_737":758,"_739":450,"_741":759,"_442":239,"_743":760,"_745":761,"_747":762},"coverUrl","https://flockler.com/thumbs/sites/889/photo-017-copy-fd0d1fb9-0862-44db-b459-22c3025ff292_s600x0.jpg","summary","A worldwide team of watch experts, historians,\njournalists, and scientists undertook a three-year investigation into the origins of the Patek Philippe Reference 96 Quantieme Lune.\n","A Research Journey: The Imperial Patek Philippe","

Photos taken by Russell Working during an interview with Georgy Permyakov in Khabarovsk in 2001.©Russell Working

\n\n

When an owner entrusts an auction house with the sale of a treasured artefact, the auctioneer must establish its provenance. In the case of Emperor Puyi’s watch, Phillips launched a research project perhaps unprecedented in the annals of auctions. A worldwide team of watch experts, historians,journalists, and scientists undertook a three-year investigation into the origins of the Patek Philippe Reference 96 Quantieme Lune.

\n\n

The watch is priceless in its own right—one of only eight known, and one of three with this dial configuration. But its value was heightened with the mystique of its backstory. Aisin-Gioro Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing dynasty, had given the watch to his interpreter while he was imprisoned in the Soviet Union (1945-1950). More than three years later, Phillips has proven the watch’s provenance—as well as that of Puyi’s notebook, a fan he inscribed, and fifteen watercolours by his brother-in-law.

\n\n

The evidence came in three stages.

\n\n

1. The Journalists

\n\n

During an internet search, Phillips’ team discovered an article about Georgy Permyakov, Puyi’s interpreter, that had run in the South China Morning Post in May 2001. A husbandwife team of journalists, Russell and Nonna Working, had interviewed Permyakov and seen many of the items in Permyakov’s home.

\n\n

Now living in suburban Chicago, they still have the original negatives of Russell’s photos of Puyi’s notebook, the fan, and the watch arrayed together on Permyakov’s desk. These photographs placed the watch and related artefacts in Permyakov’s home two decades earlier, confirming the provenance that the mementos had belonged to the interpreter. Nonna’s further research turned up a memoir article by Permyakov about Puyi, as well other publications in Russian confirming the relationship of the two men.

\n\n

\n\n

Photos taken by Russell Working during an interview with Georgy Permyakov in Khabarovsk in 2001.©Russell Working

\n\n

2. Scientists and Scholars

\n\n

When the owner entrusted the timepiece to Phillips in September 2019, an internal analysis established that all its parts were all original.
\n
\nThe company also sent the artefacts to ArtDiscovery, a London laboratory that uses radiocarbon dating and microscopic examination to confirm the age of the fan, notebook, watercolours, and other objects. The lab also conducted a literary and stylistic analysis, looking for the hand of Puyi and his brother-in-law in the writing and paintings. This evidence, too, confirmed the provenance.

\n\n

Yet there was a mystery in the watch dial itself: Someone had removed half of the surface. ‘The first question we had was, “Why is the dial in that condition?” ’ says Thomas Perazzi, head of Phillips watches, Asia. ‘We knew it was not from aging, it was not water damage. We knew that it was done by someone. But we didn’t know who was and the reason.’
\n
\nThe answer would come in a later phase of the investigation. And fascinatingly, the dial itself would help establish the provenance.

\n\n

\n\n

In 1983, Puyi's sister, Aisin-Gioro Yunxin, donated Puyi's leather bag he used to carry his treasures, and the recipient of the leather bag was Wang Wenfeng. ©Palace Museum of The Manchurian Regime

\n\n

3. The Biographer

\n\n

While the Workings established the Russian provenance, Phillips researched Chinese language sources. This led to Mr. Wang Wenfeng, formerly researcher of the Palace Museum of the Manchurian Regime, the only institute specialising in Puyi’s studies, based in Changchun.
\n
\nSince 1982 he has devoted his scholarly life to the last emperor of the Qing dynasty.He was familiar with the memoirs by Puyi’s Aisin-Gioro family. In their writings they confirmed that Puyi had given his interpreter the watch, mentioning Permyakov by name.
\n
\nFurthermore, Wang had interviewed many members of Puyi’s family, including brothers, sisters, nephews, and wives. One conversation with Puyi’s personal attendant, Li Guoxiong, solved the mystery of the dial. One day in their Soviet prison camp, Puyi asked Li to remove the surface of the watch dial to check if it was made of platinum, the servant recalled. When he saw that the surface was not platinum, Puyi told Li to stop.

\n\n

Finally, the museum sent a team of Chinese scholars to visit the Permyakovs in 2009. They, too, viewed the entire collection there—and confirmed that the watercolours in the collection had been painted by Gobulo Runqi, the notebook written by Puyi during the Soviet prison camp period.

\n\n

Drawing on these streams of information, Phillips’ patience was rewarded. Confirmation came from physical, literary, and eyewitness sources: the story was true. Puyi gave his interpreter the watch.

\n\n

\n\n

A collection of memoirs used for the Imperial Patek Philippe research.

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\nThe Watch’s Journey: A Hypothesis

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It is a strange twist of horological history that a priceless Patek Philippe Ref. 96 Quantieme Lune would turn up in a rundown Soviet-era apartment in the Russian Far East. The gift of the watch from former emperor Aisin-Gioro Puyi to his Russian interpreter, Georgy Permyakov, in 1950 is clearly documented in Chinese, Russian, and English-language sources. But how did the watch make its way from its manufacture in Geneva to faraway China?

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Guillermin advertisement for the Patek Philippe Ref. 96QL in 1937.

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Aurel Bacs, senior consultant with Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, has a theory. Though his hypothesis is unproven, strong circumstantial evidence suggests that it explains the watch’s remarkable journey. Phillips has traced the watch from its manufacture in Geneva to a 1937 sale in Guillermin, a Parisian luxury store then located on Place Vendome, home of some of the world’s leading jewellers. From there, nobody knew how the watch ended up on the wrist of a Puyi in north-eastern China.

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Playing historical Sherlock Holmes, Bacs pieced together a trail of purveyors of luxury goods in China and Southeast Asia. These businesses, including Sennet Frères, were interconnected by family marriages, and their reach stretched from Hong Kong to Paris.

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‘Please consider that Guillermin was not only retailer with a shop at 20 Place Vendome, but also the sole importer of Patek Philippe into France,’ Bacs says. ‘This means that they were also supplying to other dealers, and likely to export firms like Sennet Frères.’

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Sennet Frères is a 150-year-old Hong Kong watch and jewellery brand. Founded in Paris by Albert Weill in 1870, the firm was a major distributor of luxury watches and jewellery when he brought it to Hong Kong in the 1920s.

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‘Puyi was a client of theirs and had 14-karat gold glasses retailed by Sennet Frères,’ Bacs says.

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Puyi’s spectacles are displayed in a Sennet Frères case in the Palace Museum in Beijing. He took pride in his American Packard automobile, imported by Levy Frères, also called Levy Hermanos, since the business was anchored in the former Spanish colony of the Philippines. This firm was founded by a merchant family of Jewish refugees from Alsace-Loraine who were connected by marriage to Sennet Frères.

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Levy Frères/Hermanos becomes an important link in Bacs’ detective story. ‘They were Patek Philippe retailers, too—in fact, their sole agents,’ he says.

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Sennet Frères eventually took over the Levy Freres business in Hong Kong and opened branches in Shanghai and Tianjin. The latter city is where Puyi lived in the Japanese concession after fleeing Beijing in the 1920s.

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‘Sennet Freres was still around in the 1970s and was my family’s jeweller,’ recalls Pansy Ku, Phillips’ International Business Development Director for Watches. ‘I remember going to their shop at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Marina House in Central. They were a French-Jewish family who had a watch and jewellery company and were the purveyor of fine jewellery and distributor for Patek Philippe and Cartier as well as clocks, etc. Evidence from the various luxury goods come together to suggest a path the watch followed in its journey east. The Packard automobile was ‘probably imported by the same company as his glasses, jewellery and Patek Philippe,’ Bacs says.

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\n","2023-04-19T06:56:39.000000Z","Veronica Chow",50,"https://www.phillips.com/article/120485647/a-research-journey-imperial-pp-hkwatches",1796,4192,120485647,{"_750":764,"_729":155,"_752":765,"_486":766,"_731":767,"_733":768,"_735":757,"_737":758,"_739":450,"_741":769,"_442":397,"_743":770,"_745":771,"_747":772},"https://flockler.com/thumbs/sites/889/photo-017-copy-5adbef63-5734-4411-9bf1-14de0e6d84af_s600x0.jpg","富藝斯組織了一個匯集鐘錶專家、歷史學家、資深記者及科學家的跨國團隊，對據悉為溥儀御用的百達翡麗型號96「Quantieme†Lune」腕錶進行了歷時三年的深入調查。\n\n","研究之旅 - 御藏百達翡麗","

2001 年，羅素·華京在伯力採訪別兒面濶夫時拍攝的照片。©Russell Working

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作為一家深具信譽的拍賣行，一旦受到藏家委托拍賣名貴珍藏，必會肩負起為藝術品端本正源的重任。

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富藝斯接獲末代皇帝溥儀遺珍的考據工作，有感任重道遠，遂展開相信是拍賣史上空前未有的宏博研析。我們組織了一個匯集鐘錶專家、歷史學家、資深記者及科學家的跨國團隊，對據悉為溥儀御用的百達翡麗型號96「Quantieme†Lune」腕錶進行了歷時三年的深入調查。

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這枚百達翡麗腕錶本身的矜貴程度已經毋庸置疑，連它在內的同型號存世品僅得八枚，具有同類錶盤配置的僅三枚。其至尊顯赫的來源出處、撲朔迷離的流傳過程，更為腕錶倍添非凡的深層意義。這枚曠世名錶，據說由末代皇帝愛新覺羅．溥儀在囚蘇聯期間（1945–1950年）贈予其俄語翻譯。三餘年後，經過研究團隊多番努力，最終彙整出藏品來源的詳實報告，分三階段搜證分析溥儀腕錶、筆記本、題詩紙扇及皇親潤麒繪畫的15幅水彩畫。

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1. 記者實錄

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富藝斯研究團隊在初期的網上搜索中，發現一篇2001年5月由《南華早報》刊印的文章，內容有關溥儀翻譯別兒面濶夫（Georgy Permyakov）。作者羅素．華京（Russell Working）及同為記者的妻子羅娜．華京（Nonna Working）曾經採訪別兒面濶夫，在其府上親眼看過藏品。

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華京夫婦現居芝加哥市郊，仍然保留著羅素當年拍攝的菲林底片。相中顯示別兒面濶夫住所桌上，排列著溥儀筆記本、紙扇和腕錶。照片記錄了物品二十年前的實況，證明別兒面濶夫曾為藏品物主。羅娜仔細追查，發現別兒面濶夫曾撰寫一篇憶述溥儀往事的文章，以及其他記載兩人關係的俄文刊物。

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2. 科學鑒定與藝術考據

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2019年9月，現時藏家委托富藝斯研究腕錶及珍藏各品。經本行分析，確定腕錶及每件藏品均為原製，未經加工。

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我們把藏品送到位於倫敦的藝術科研機構「ArtDiscovery」，以實驗室放射性碳測試及顯微鏡檢查確認紙扇、筆記本、水彩畫與其他物品的年齡。機構同時為藏品進行藝術風格分析，推敲其文字、繪畫是否出自溥儀及潤麒，最終亦提供了相關證據。

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然而，錶盤經移除半面表層，留下一大謎團。富藝斯鐘錶部亞洲區主管彭偉時（Thomas Perazzi）說：「我們的先決問題是，錶盤何以出現如此狀況？這顯然無關老化、積水，而是人為。但經手人及其動機為何，我們實在毫無頭緒。」

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謎題在研究的後期階段漸露曙光。有趣的是，腕錶品相成為藏品來源的考據關鍵。

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3. 溥儀研究學者

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華京夫婦確定藏品一度流傳俄國之際，富藝斯團隊著手搜查中文文獻。研究過程中，我們聯繫上專研溥儀的唯一學術機構、位於長春的偽滿皇宮博物院之前研究員王文鋒。

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自1982年起，王文鋒致力研究末代皇帝溥儀，對愛新覺羅家族的事跡知之甚詳。在他們的親述記錄或親筆回憶錄中，提及別兒面濶夫，亦證實溥儀曾向他送贈腕錶。王文鋒採訪過溥儀家族成員，包括多名弟、妹、侄、妻，以及隨從李國雄。據李國雄憶述，他在囚蘇聯期間，受溥儀吩咐把腕錶表層移除，直至溥儀判斷出物料是否鉑金。錶盤的謎團因而解開。

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2009年，偽滿皇宮博物院派出一個中國學者團探訪別兒面濶夫。他們在其俄國住所觀看了每件藏品，確認各水彩畫均由郭布羅．潤麒繪畫，筆記本由溥儀在蘇聯收容所內所寫。

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三年多來的探賾索微，終於換來豐碩成果。科研實驗、藝術分析，乃至目擊者的第一手資料，一致證實當初之據悉來源的確真有其事——溥儀把腕錶贈予翻譯別兒面濶夫。

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探索御藏百達翡麗的回憶錄集。

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大膽假設：御用時計東巡之路

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此天價瑰寶百達翡麗型號96「Quantieme Lune」，出現在俄羅斯遠東地區一間蘇聯時代的破舊公寓中，令鐘錶專家們百思不得其解。

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1950年，末代皇帝愛新覺羅．溥儀將之贈予其苏联翻譯官員格爾基．佩爾米亞科夫（Georgy Permyakov），此深情厚誼之舉，在中文、俄文和英文歷史文獻中均有詳細記載。然而，這枚腕錶在當時，是如何從產地日內瓦運送到遠東地區的呢？

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1937年Guillermin百達翡麗Ref. 96QL廣告。

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富藝斯及Bacs & Russo資深顧問 Aurel Bacs就此提出一個理論：儘管他的假設未經證實，眾多有力證據闡釋了箇中疑團，足證此重寶之非凡之旅。根據富藝斯考證，團隊追溯到這枚手錶在日內瓦出產後，於1937年分銷到巴黎奢侈品商店Guillermin。Guillermin當時位處雲集全球頂級珠寶商的凡登廣場（Place Vendôme）。此腕錶的下落便無從得知，關於其如何歸於末代皇帝手中，也頓成謎團。

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Bacs決定抽絲剝繭，追根溯源，拼湊出其時中國和東南亞奢侈品供應商的足跡。這些企業，包括Sennet Frères，通過家族聯姻，使得雙方關係更為緊密，彼此的業務網絡亦得以從香港延伸至巴黎。Bacs坦言：「值得注意之處在於Guillermin的業務，他們不僅在凡登廣場20號設有店舖，更是百達翡麗在法國的唯一進口商。這意味著他們同時向其他經銷商供貨，尤其是Sennet Frères這類出口公司。」

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Sennet Frères是一家擁有150年歷史的香港鐘錶珠寶品牌。該品牌由Albert Weill於1870年在巴黎創辦，並於1920年代進駐香港，成為當時奢侈鐘錶珠寶的主要分銷商。Bacs表示：「溥儀是Sennet Frères的尊貴客戶，擁有品牌發售的14K黃金製眼鏡。」在北京故宮博物院裡，溥儀的眼鏡置於Sennet Frères眼鏡盒中展示。他尤其鍾情於來自美國的帕卡德座駕，而該輛汽車正是由Levy Frères進口。Levy Frères又稱Levy Hermanos，源自曾是西班牙殖民地的菲律賓，乃至品牌名稱富有該地中海國家的色彩；品牌由來自阿爾薩斯-洛林的猶太裔難民商家創辦，與Sennet Frères有著姻親關係。

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Levy Frères/Hermanos成為證明Bacs假設的重要線索，他說：「他們也是百達翡麗的零售商，更是獨家經銷商。」Sennet Frères其後接管了Levy Frères的香港業務，並在上海和天津兩地開設分店，而後者正是溥儀在1920年代逃離北京後的日租界住所所在地。富藝斯鐘錶部國際業務發展總監Pansy Ku憶述：「Sennet Frères在1970年代仍有營業，也是我家族的珠寶商。我記得自己去過他們位處中環文華東方酒店和公主行（現為置地廣場）的店址，由一個法籍猶太裔家族經營。他們擁有一家鐘錶珠寶公司，亦是高級珠寶品牌的供應商，以及百達翡麗和卡地亞等鐘錶廠的經銷商。」

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通過各種線索，這枚帝王藏錶的東方行旅之路有跡可循。Bacs續稱：「上述的帕卡德汽車與溥儀的眼鏡、珠寶和百達翡麗可能由同一家公司進口。」

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1. The Journalists

Photos taken by Russell Working during an interview with Georgy Permyakov in Khabarovsk in 2001.©Russell Working

2. Scientists and Scholars

In 1983, Puyi's sister, Aisin-Gioro Yunxin, donated Puyi's leather bag he used to carry his treasures, and the recipient of the leather bag was Wang Wenfeng. ©Palace Museum of The Manchurian Regime

3. The Biographer

A collection of memoirs used for the Imperial Patek Philippe research.

\nThe Watch’s Journey: A Hypothesis

Guillermin advertisement for the Patek Philippe Ref. 96QL in 1937.

1. 記者實錄

2001 年，羅素·華京在伯力採訪別兒面濶夫時拍攝的照片。©Russell Working

2. 科學鑒定與藝術考據

1983年，溥儀的五妹韞馨捐獻了溥儀裝珍寶的牛皮包，接收牛皮包者為王文鋒。\n©Palace Museum of The Manchurian Regime 偽滿皇宮博物院

3. 溥儀研究學者

探索御藏百達翡麗的回憶錄集。

大膽假設：御用時計東巡之路

1937年Guillermin百達翡麗Ref. 96QL廣告。

1983年，溥儀的五妹韞馨捐獻了溥儀裝珍寶的牛皮包，接收牛皮包者為王文鋒。
\n©Palace Museum of The Manchurian Regime 偽滿皇宮博物院

1

Aisin-Gioro Puyi

The Red Fan

Further Details

Aisin-Gioro Puyi