Important Watches | 珍貴名錶
Important Watches | 珍貴名錶
SWISS | TWO RARE GOLD AND ENAMEL HUNTING CASED PRESENTATION WATCHES WITH THE PORTRAIT OF NASER AL-DIN SHAH OF PERSIA, CIRCA 1890 | 瑞士製 |罕有黃金畫琺瑯懷錶一對，飾波斯國王納賽爾丁沙像，年份約1890
Auction Closed
December 11, 08:21 PM GMT
Estimate
50,000 - 100,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
SWISS
瑞士製
TWO RARE GOLD AND ENAMEL HUNTING CASED PRESENTATION WATCHES WITH THE PORTRAIT OF NASER AL-DIN SHAH OF PERSIA
CIRCA 1890
罕有黃金畫琺瑯懷錶一對，飾波斯國王納賽爾丁沙像，年份約1890
Dial: white enamel
Caliber: 18'" ligne movement, 10 jewels
Case: yellow gold, front panel centered by a peinture sur émail portrait of Naser al-Din Shah of Persia in a royal interior, the reverse with the Lion and Sun crest of Persia over a red guilloché ground, the surround with vari-colored bouquets bordered on each side by polychrome enamel floral sprays
Case number: 2064
Size: diameter 46 mm
Dial: white enamel, with hairlines
Caliber: 19'" ligne movement, 10 jewels
Case: yellow gold, front panel centered by a peinture sur émail portrait of Naser al-Din Shah of Persia in a royal interior, the reverse with the Lion and Sun crest of Persia over guilloché ground, the surround with blue scrolling foliate horizontally bordered by vases with pink bouquets
Case number: 3831
Size: diameter 49 mm
The fine peinture sur émail portraits featured in these two watches are that of Naser al-Din, Shah of Persia. The Shah's reign from 1846-1898 became the third longest reign in the Iranian Monarchy's history, spanning close to 50 years. He became the first leader of his country to visit Europe.
On the second of his three tours of Europe in 1873, he recorded his travels in a diary which was later translated into several languages. During that trip, Queen Victoria appointed him a Knight of the Order of the Garter, one of the greatest orders of chivalry second only by the Victoria, and George Cross.
He was particularly interested in technology and the fine arts, especially inspired during his tours in Europe. Though never formally trained, the Shah himself was an avid painter and photographer. These fine hunting cased watches match the interest of the Shah seamlessly. His likeness and Persian crest are deftly rendered in the enameling techniques revered in Europe. These pieces were likely commissioned as a gift to his hosts during his travels.