Vacheron Constantin/Verger Frères

• circular nickel lever movement, 17 jewels, bi-metallic balance • tinted mother-of-pearl dial depicting a tropical scene of two exotic birds perched on etched palm fronds with coral berries, with stylized clouds in the background, serpentine hands • octagonal-shape onyx case, the bezel with diamond-set Arabic numerals, all surmounted upon a base of jade and onyx, mother-of-pearl scalloped motif to the base, diamond-set markers to the front of the base • movement signed Vacheron Constantin, inside of case back stamped VF within a lozenge for Verger Frères, case signed by the retailer Linzeler & Marchak 

A stunning piece. The movement is running at the time of cataloguing, however it may require service soon. The dial is very attractive with no visible losses or imperfections. The black enamel has a matte finished and is intact throughout, with a few light surface scuffs. The lower left hand corner of the base has a chip, and the underside is scuffed. The box is in fragile condition due to its age. It is numbered 80608 and 18624 on the reserve surrounding the movement. The inside of case back is numbered 9010 in two different locations, repeated on the interior of the bezel. The movement is numbered 586372 on one side, and 386572 on the other side. The '3' and the '5' are inverted, however the 386572 corresponds more closely to the similar pieces cited in the Antiquorum 1994 sale: 386589 and 386583. Please note that the present lot features mother of pearl, and as such will require an additional week for US Fish and Wildlife Clearance.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. 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. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.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."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

With a fitted box.

Sotheby’s is delighted to offer the present lot for the first time at auction on behalf of a Midwestern American Family. This stunning and hitherto unknown example adds significant understanding to our knowledge of the collaborative works of Vacheron Constantin with Verger Frères. Its symmetrical octagonal format makes it the first known of this shape, reinforcing the notion that the creative spirit of the time was truly boundless.

The dial features a charming tropical scene of two exotic birds within palm fronds, all masterfully executed in tinted mother-of-pearl. Though the dial is unsigned, careful review of comparable signed pieces suggests that this artistry may well have been the work of Vladimir Makovsky. His work made frequent reference to exotic lands and faraway adventures after a lifetime of travels. These scenes were commissioned for pieces from the most illustrious maisons: Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier, among others. 

The movement is signed by Vacheron Constantin, whose work is found in some of the most celebrated pieces of this type. In creating these masterpieces, they worked in close collaboration with Verger Frères, a renowned French firm who was known to be the Paris representative of Vacheron Constantin between 1880 and 1930. In this partnership, Vacheron Constantin would create movements, and upon arrival in Paris, Verger Frères would case them in watch and clock cases. These pieces made brilliant use of carved hardstones, favoring Eastern-themed motifs and exotic creatures such as monkeys or parrots.

Items from this collaboration were also retailed in many of the other fine jewelry salons of the era, such as Tiffany & Co., Lacloche Frères, Ostertag, Black, Starr & Frost, and in the present example, the Parisian retailer Linzeler and Marchak. Later, in 1946, Jacques Verger would join the firm and ultimately gain ownership of it, further cementing the strong relationship between the houses that we see in the present example. Interestingly enough, Judy Rudoe notes in Cartier 1900-1930 that Cartier took over the Linzeler/Marchak workshop from the mid 1930s until the 1940s.

For pieces of strikingly similar design, though in asymmetrical octagonal cases, see The Art of Vacheron Constantin, Antiquorum, November 13th, 1994, lots 74 and 75. 

For additional desk clocks made by Verger Frères for Vacheron Constantin, see Cologni, F., Secrets of Vacheron Constantin, p. 330-1. See also pieces on view in the summer 2011 exhibition 'Treasures of Vacheron Constantin: A Legacy of Watchmaking since 1755', held at the National Museum of Singapore. These pieces are illustrated on pp. 179-181 of the exhibition catalogue.