VAUCHER, FLEURIER | A VERY FINE GOLD, ENAMEL AND SPLIT-PEARL-SET DUPLEX WATCH MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKETCIRCA 1840

• Movement: gilded partially skeletonised plates finely engraved with scrolling foliage against a stippled ground, similarly decorated barrel, Chinese duplex escapement, three-arm balance with blued steel screwed weights, glazed cuvette with apertures for winding and hand-set, unsigned• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, blued steel hands and centre seconds, outer ring for minutes/seconds with Arabic quarter hour divisions, signed Vaucher, Fleurier• Case: gold, the back with polychrome enamel painted bouquet of flowers, a pair of doves at the centre all against an opaque black enamel background, split-pearl-set bezels and bow, the band and pendant decorated with geometric opaque black and white champlevé enamel, pusher through pendant to release case back and reveal the glazed cuvette 

Movement: running at time of cataloguing. Tarnishing to the plates. Dial: inspected through glass only - appears to be in good overall condition Case: very small and light surface chip above the peony at the top left of the case back, light scuffing to surface at left case edge, otherwise enamel to case back appears in good overall condition with some minor scratches. A few very minor losses to opaque enamel decoration of case band.
"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."

In her book, Swiss Timepiece Makers 1775-1975 (Phoenix 1997, Vol. II, p.V-23), Kathleen Pritchard cites an article from the Journal Suisse d'Horlogerie (Vol. IV, No. 8, Feb. 1880) in which three Vaucher firms from Fleurier are noted to have been producing Chinese duplex watches during the first half 19th century, these were: Claude & Cesar Vaucher, Charles Henri Vaucher and Vaucher Frères. As found in the present lot, the finest of these watches invariably had highly decoratively engraved gilded movements and vibrant polychrome enamel painted cases.