A lantern-shaped gold and agate bonbonnière with timepiece, John and George Hanet, London, circa 1765

the banded grey agate panels mounted en cage with chased gold garlands entwined with scrolls, the lid overlaid with a cherub playing the flute, the base inset with a watch concealed under an extraordinarily thin agate dome, the white enamel dial with inner roman and outer arabic chapter rings, pierced gold hands, the verge movement inscribed: Jn & Geo Hannett / London and numbered: 11622, the rim with scratch number: 11631, with later key and case

The Collections of Hanns and Elisabeth Weinberg and the Antique Porcelain Company of New York, sale Sotheby's New York, 10/11 November 2006, lot 17

The excellent condition of this piece given its age and the thinness of the agate panels involved is quite extraordinary. None of the agate panels nor the incredibly thin almost translucent agate 'dome' over the watch face appear to have been replaced. Great care has been taken also in the choice of agates for the panels particularly on the sides where darker tones alternate with paler more figured stones. On the enamel watch dial there are chips around keyhole and a cracklet from 6 to 9; otherwise good order. Some heavy wear to modern leather case.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The brothers John and George Hannett (or Hanet as they were more generally known) were the sons of a Huguenot goldsmith, Michael Hanet. George is recorded as' free of the Clockmakers', entering a mark as watch casemaker in 1737 from Castle Street, near St Martin's Court, next door to the Angel but in all further records both describe themselves as goldsmiths. John and George Hanet, goldsmiths, of St Anne's, Westminster, took on an apprentice in 1742 and a further apprentice, James Vivares, probably the son of the engraver François Vivares, in 1762. Kent's Directory suggests that they had premises in Porter Street, Leicester Fields, where their parents lived, sometime before 1761 and they are both described as goldsmiths of Porter Street in their wills: John's proved in 1771 (Prob 11/972) and George's in 1793 (Prob 11/1233). John’s will is particularly interesting as it refers to ‘the half that I have in partnership with my Brother George Hanet that consists of working Tools agates and any other stones work in hand that is unfinished’ and also ‘Bonds Book Debts Goldwork made or in hand ...I mean as work now in India or elsewhere or what is or shall be returned home in time to come and the produce thereof’. Until now it has been assumed that the Hanets were watchmakers since their names appear on the movements of a few watches contained within agate boxes such as this example and another, formerly the property of Alfred de Rothschild (Sotheby’s, 21 March 1966, lot 58) or on gold-mounted agate chatelaines. It seems more probable that they were responsible for the fine gold and lapidary work and alone or for larger retailers, producing work for the Indian market.