Patek Philippe - Hong Kong Watch Auction: THREE Hong Kong Monday, November 28, 2016 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 1900
    Movement No: 162'517
    Case No: 269'162
    Material: 18k yellow gold and enamel
    Calibre: Mechanical, 17'''
    Dimensions: 45 mm. diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: With Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with painted Egyptian ornament and blue enamel in 1900 and its subsequent sale on 17 July 1922.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Ancient Egypt immediately captured the hearts and minds of western society, following the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb on 4 November 1922. The media breathlessly chronicled Howard Carter’s expedition, churning out fantastical stories about the archeological triumph. Egyptian culture influenced every aspect of society, from film, to literature, food and fashion. So smitten was the West that sociologists dub this era ‘Tutmania’.

    The horological world was not immune to ‘Tutmania’. During the 1920s, high-end watchmakers produced Egyptian inspired masterpieces, featuring precious materials and exquisite designs. During this period, Patek Philippe produced a few unique enamel masterpieces for its most exclusive client.

    Displaying ‘Tutmania’ in all its glory, this watch features a beautiful polychrome enamel portrait of Egyptian deity Geb. As the god of earth and fecundity, Geb is typically accompanied with a goose, seen on his crown. Two geese furthermore flank his head. Geb dons traditional garb, which is rendered in lush green enamel, evoking vegetation. Images of oxen, farmers and plants surround the deity, reinforcing his power and virtues.

    The polychrome enamel painting is rendered beautifully, capturing every small detail, down to the flick of the oxen’s ear. The enamel has been preserved in exceptional condition, considering its age, and the blue surround is painted with painstaking care. It is free of hairlines and cracks. The dial is equally stunning, as the enamel Arabic numerals exhibit bold and beautifully translucent tones. The white enamel is furthermore preserved in excellent condition without any imperfections.

    Only Patek Philippe had the ability to create works of art at this level, highlighting the rarity and importance of the present watch. Manufactured in 1900, this fresh-to-the-market-watch was coincidentally sold the very year of King Tut's discovery, and truly captures the zeitgeist of the 1920s.

    百達翡麗琺瑯懷錶 大地之神蓋柏

    自1922年11月4日考古學家發現圖坦卡蒙國王古墓後,神秘的古埃及文化便迅速直捲西方社會並造成巨大影響。媒體鉅細靡遺地記錄了考古學家霍華德˙卡特的探險,為大眾呈現這項石破天驚的考古成就。當時的西方文化受到劇烈衝擊,瞬間舉凡電影、文學、食品、時尚產品皆因此而產生巨大的改變,所以當時社會學家稱此現象為圖坦熱潮。鐘錶界亦深受影響,1920年代許多高級製錶商因此而受到啟發,設計了一系列精美奢華的傑作。百達翡麗於同一時期,也為尊貴客戶訂製數件獨一無二的琺瑯精品。
    本懷錶以多彩琺瑯描繪古埃及神-大地之神蓋柏,完美重現圖坦熱潮的輝煌時期。畫中可見大地之神蓋柏的標誌鵝形冠,翠綠琺瑯的傳統服飾象徵農作興盛,蓋柏的頭像周圍環繞牛、農民、農作等圖樣,宣揚大地之神的強大和美德。
    琺瑯工藝的每個環節皆精美細緻,小至牛耳都唯妙唯肖。本拍品擁有悠長歷史,機芯於1900年生產,1920年代售出。半透明的藍色琺瑯彩色澤亮麗依舊,白色琺瑯錶盤和琺瑯阿拉伯數字狀況良好,整體琺瑯完整無暇,此等品相保存至今實屬難得。
    本拍品首次現身於拍賣市場,透過這件佳作,無疑再次印證百達翡麗是完美結合藝術與頂級製錶工藝的宣道者。

  • 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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A highly exceptional, attractive and unique yellow gold and polychrome enamel openface watch depicting Egyptian deity Geb

1900
45 mm. diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$500,000 - 1,000,000 
€58,700-117,000
$64,000-125,000

Sold for HK$4,040,000

Hong Kong Watch Auction: THREE

Hong Kong Auction 29 November 2016