A. LANGE & SÖHNE, GLASHÜTTE | A VERY FINE PINK GOLD HUNTING CASED KEYLESS LEVER WATCH WITH PROFESSOR GRAFF ENGRAVED DECORATION AND POLYCHOME ENAMEL PORTRAIT OF MINERVA WITH ORIGINAL BOX, NUMBERED CERTIFICATE, SPARE GLASSES AND SPRINGCIRCA 1906 NO. 45762

• Movement: 1a quality, cal. 43 gilded ¾ plate, gold lever and escape wheel, jewels carried in screwed gold chatons, bi-metallic compensation balance, diamond endstone, swan-neck regulation, signed and numbered A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte b/ Dresden, 45762• Dial: white enamel, Arabic numerals, outer minute track, sunken centre, recessed subsidiary seconds, Louis XV style hands, signed A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte b/ Dresden• Case: 18ct gold, highly decorated Louis XV style, chased and engraved on both sides with decoration after Professor Graff, the front centred with a blank cartouche, the back centred with a polychrome enamel painted head of Minerva in profile, each of the central cartouches surrounded by baskets of fruit, a pair of doves above and a heart beneath, bezels and chased band engraved with flowers and foliage, the crown in the form of an urn and with ornate chased and engraved bow, plain polished gold cuvette, further glazed movement cover, case and cuvette signed A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte, case back and cuvette numbered 45762, case front numbered 62Accompaniments: A. Lange & Söhne fitted presentation box containing original numbered certificate, spare glasses and mainspring 

Reinhard Meis, A. Lange & Söhne, The Watchmakers of Dresden Vol. II, 2012, Frontispiece and pp. 126-127 figs. 360-364
Kurt Herkner, Glashütte und Seiner Uhren, 1988, p. 141
Reinhard Meis, Klassikuhren “Glashütte Damals” pp. 12-31

Movement: running at time of cataloguing and appears to be in good aesthetic condition. Hands adjusting. Dial: appears to be in good condition. Case: in very good overall condition with crisp decoration, a few small scratches to polychrome enamel painted panel.
"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."

Accompanied by a certificate of origin from the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum, Glashütte confirming the date of sale on 1st July 1906 to J.Diel, Kassel for 763.-M and "Prof. Graff" case design. When Emil Lange assumed sole control of the firm after his brother Richard's retirement, he keenly promoted more decorative case styles.  At the same time, Germany was experiencing a period of heightened prosperity under Kaiser Wilhelm II and this led to a growing demand for more ornate timepieces.  The firm increased demand for their watches by creating lavishly decorated pieces, which turned a higher profit for the company. 
 
Professor Carl Ludwig Theodor Graff's (1844-1906) case designs, such as found on the present piece, were some of the most elaborate watches produced by the firm.  The Dresden school of applied arts produced, under the direction of Professor Graff, a great number of decorative designs for Lange, as well as other Glashütte firms. Graff served as the Firector of the Royal College of Arts and the Art Museum in Dresden.  The themes were mostly from Renaissance architecture or illustrated manuscripts. On the present watch, a central cartouche features a polychrome enamel painting of the head of Minerva wearing a feather cap and jewellery. The style of the headdress looks ahead to Art Deco design.  Meis further discusses Professor Graff and his cases in Watchmakers of Dresden Vol. II, 2012, pp. 122-127.

The firm produced a relatively small quantity of cases with enamel decoration after Professor Graff.  To the best of our knowledge, only six pieces have ever been offered at auction.