Marthe Bischoff (1900-1991), one of the finest miniature enamelers of the past century, produced a remarkably small number of pocket watches for Patek Philippe during her career, with only a handful are known to exist today. Her works are less frequently encountered than those of the more famous Suzanne Rohr. Two of her masterpieces, “The Hunt” (1971) and “The First Consul Crossing the Alps at Great Saint Bernard Pass” (1970), are on permanent display at the Patek Philippe Museum. The present piece, however, was completed when Bischoff was 74 years old.

“A Canoe of the Sandwich Islands, the Rowers Masked”, John Webber, circa 1784

The inspiration for this miniature enamel comes from an 18th century drawing by John Webber (1752-1793). Webber was the official artist on British explorer Captain James Cook’s third and final voyage to the Pacific from 1776 to 1780. Born in London, England, in 1751, he was trained as an artist and tasked with creating illustrations of the places and people encountered during the voyage. His sketches were later used to produce engravings for the official account of the journey, published after Cook's death. Webber aimed to provide a more vivid representation than could be conveyed through written descriptions.

During Cook’s third voyage, he sought to discover the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific coast of North America. The present enamel miniature captures Webber’s depiction of a scene from his time in the "Sandwich Islands", the European name for the Hawaiian Islands, which Cook named in 1778 in honor of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. The name was widely used by foreigners in the 19th century, although the native name, Hawaiʻi, has since been restored.

The enamel illustrates a notable image of ten Hawaiian rowers transporting a priest carrying a feather-covered representation of Kukailimoku, the Hawaiian god of war. The priests and paddlers are all adorned with gold masks as they navigate a double-hulled canoe with an upright sail. These double-hulled or single-hulled outrigger canoes were the primary mode of transport in Polynesian Hawaii. The smaller canoes, like the one depicted here, were carved from a single great Hawaiian Koa log harvested from the rainforest, then shaped and brought down to the coast.

The craftsmanship is magnificent, beautifully capturing the scenery of this remarkable expedition, with the sky, ocean, and clouds enhancing the canoe's presence. Well-preserved since its auction debut in 2006, it has remained in a safe without further intervention. The present “Guerriers Hawaiiens” is a true culmination of watchmaking and fine art, showcasing Patek Philippe's preeminence in the field.