One of the most significant horological rediscoveries of the 21st century, the present Water Clock by Cartier, crafted of marble, silver, lapis lazuli, nephrite, coral, mother-of-pearl, enamel and jade, is a study in ingenuity, precision and sheer creativity. Having originally appeared on the market three decades ago, its reappearance at auction marks an important – and auspicious – moment within the history of horology. So rare are these clocks that a cursory search does not yield many results; in fact further research reveals that only one bearing the chimera was ever made.
The Cartier water clock, also known as “La Pendule Magnétique” is among the most exotic and prestigious creations by La Maison. Made by Maurice Couet who established the Cartier horological workshop at 30 rue Lafayette in Paris in 1919, it is the most sophisticated of all clocks, along with hallowed Mystery Clock model.
Between 1927 and 1930, Maurice Couet manufactured only one of the Chimera water clock. This creation may well constitute the apex and pinnacle of Cartier’s production, representing the golden years of its creativity.
So important is the present specimen that it is explicitly written about in The Cartier Collection: Timepieces by Franco Cologni and François Chaille – the official tome by Cartier for their extensive archives. Regarding Water Clocks and this very timepiece, they write,
“Maurice Coüet appliqua ce dispositif dans les trois pendules magnétiques qu’il fabriqua. Deux reprenaient le motif de la tortue, dont celle qui appartient aujourd’hui à la Collection, avec tortue en écaille, cuvette en argent et socle en marbre. La plus précieuse des trois, datée de 1929, longtemps disparue et dont on ne connaissait qu’une photographie d’archives, réapparut en 1990 dans une vente à New York : une chimère en jade à yeux d’émeraude et langue d’émail rouge se penche sur une coupelle – pièce chinoise du XVIIIe siècle, en jade elle aussi -, alors qu’une petite tortue en écaille (à l’origine il s’agissait d’un motif en forme de feuille) fait son tour”
An English translation states the following,
“Maurice Coüet applied this mechanism within three magnetic clocks he fabricated. Among them, two featured the turtle motif, including the one that currently belongs to the Collection, with a tortoiseshell turtle, a silver basin and a marble base. The most precious of the three clocks, dated 1929, which had long been missing and only known through a photograph from the archives, reappeared in 1990 at auction in New York: a jade chimera with emerald eyes and a red enamel tongue perched on the rim of a dish – an 18th century Chinese piece, also made of jade – while a small tortoiseshell turtle (originally, designed as a leaf-shaped motif) makes its round.”
As such, it means that Cartier itself confirms that of all the Watch Clock designed and fabricated in the 20th century, the present one is the most precious and important of all, having been found in 1990s and disappearing ever since. This sentiment is further repeated in the tome Cartier by Hans Nadelhoffer, who describes this very piece as being "La version la plus raffinée" - "the version most refined".
The mechanism itself is operated by a simple magnetic field set that is placed between concealed magnets in the case and in the carp fish, drawing them around the shallow water filled bowl, past the gold, coral, mother-of-pearl and enamel chapters to indicate the time.
While it has been said that the mechanism of this clock was inspired by Nicolas Grollier de Servière, the famous clockmaker of Lyon, the mechanism of this clock actually operates on the same principle as the “South Pointing Fish” compass invented by the Chinese in 1040AD. By the 11th century, the Chinese military used both the wet and dry compass for navigational and maritime activities. The so-called “south-pointing fish” was in fact a wooden fish which had a magnetized iron needle that floated in a bowl of water. Later, a dry compass version evolved in the shape of a turtle. Lodestone was fixed on the body of the fish and was balanced on a bamboo needle, which allowed it to rotate freely.
While Cartier’s Water Clocks usually featured a turtle to indicate time, in this instance, the fish has been painstakingly created to indicate the hours and minutes (rather than the turtle, as previously noted in literature). In fact, in traditional Culture, these two creatures are interchangeable, and both were used as direction indicators in traditional compasses.
Of all the Water Clocks to have come to the market, the present example is the most lavishly designed one to exit the Cartier workshops. The base is crafted of marble, while lapis lazuli and aventurine accents stud the base. The basin itself is a Chinese creation from the 17th century. Crafted out of nephrite, a Chimera coils around the basin, like a large cat perched on the rim, ready to pounce and catch its prey. In Chinese imagery, the dragon and fish are often depicted together, symbolizing potent and auspicious powers, particularly with control over water. The Chimera, also known as the Qilin, is an auspicious creature in Far Eastern Mythology, said to bring good luck, fortune and wisdom. Furthermore, the hour indexes are made of lacquer.
So important is this Water Clock that the design gouache from the Cartier Archives is also illustrated in Asia Imagined – the tome based on the historical exhibition of Cartier pieces, co-curated with the Baur Foundation. It is the missing link within the book – important enough to be prominently illustrated, but its whereabouts unknown during the physical exhibition and only rediscovered on the international auction market today.
Without a doubt one of the most important objects ever created by Cartier, the appearance of this Water Clock is an event to be celebrated by connoisseurs and scholars alike. A dream come true for many, it presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors to acquire a trophy - the very best, of the rarest complication ever created by Cartier.
Potential bidders who intend to export this lot are advised that certain permits may be required. Please contact the Watches Department prior to bidding on this lot.
