JOHN KENEBEL

JOHN KENEBEL, SWITZERLAND, OVAL PEARL SET CENTRE SECOND WATCH MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET, GOLD AND ENAMEL A magnificent and rare, large, gold and enamel, pearl-set, manual wind oval-shaped centre-seconds watch. Oval white enamel dial with circular chapter ring, Roman numerals, outer minute and fifth-second divisions, and Arabic numerals for the 15-minute/second intervals. The upper and lower borders finely decorated with painted roses and foliage. Gold heart-shaped hands. Enamelled pendant and bow set with pearls; gold engine-turned and engraved cuvette, hinged to the movement ring. Case back finely painted in polychrome enamel with a scene after Evening by William Hamilton, R.A. (1751–1801), the enamel painting possibly by Jean Abraham Lissignol. Case by Georges Reymond. Made for the Oriental market. Brand: John Kenebel, Switzerland Year: Circa 1790 Movement: 540 Caliber: Oval shaped, 42 x 53.5 mm, gilt brass bridge calibre, 10 jewels, going barrel, lateral lever escapement with club-tooth steel escape wheel, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued-steel Breguet balance spring. Diameter: 56 x 91 mm Signature: casemaker's initials GR (George Reymond), movement signed and numbered Grading System: EXCEPTIONAL Case: 3-8 (Good , Slightly scratched) Dial: 2-32-01 (Very good , Slightly restored , HANDS Original) Movement: 3* (Good , Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense) HKD: 478,000 - 960,000 USD: 61,000 - 122,000 EUR: 54,000 - 108,000 JPY: 9,590,000 - 19,180,000 A similar watch is published in the Sandberg collection, pages 270-271. John Kenebel is not recorded, but may well have been a trader who had connections in the Orient. The movement has features similar to watches signed Jaquet-Droz and was made, with the case and dial, in Switzerland. William Hamilton painted a sequence of paintings, depicting the four parts of the day. This watch is superbly executed and decorated. It is among the best examples made for the Oriental market. Due to the artistic value of the object, a later owner, during the second half of the 19th century, must have decided to improve the timekeeping of the watch by changing the original lever escapement to a more advanced type, so well executed as to leave no visible signs of the conversion. Jean Abraham Lissignol One of the fi nest enamelers of his time, was born in Geneva on May 1749, died in Plainpalais on June 28, 1819. He was the pupil of Jean-Marc Roux and later became his partner. Specialised in snuff-boxes and watch cases, he worked for Jaquet Droz and Leschot, the Rochat Brothers and John Rich. In the Lord Sandberg collection prior to 2001, a very similar watch is in the collection of Patek Philippe Museum. Georges Reymond active from 1783 to 1815-20. Became Master goldsmith on 22 December 1783 and struck his first Master mark. Seven years later he appears to have formed a company: Georges Rémond & Cie., which eventually became, circa 1800, Rémond, Mercier, Lamy & Cie. During the French occupation of Switzerland by Napoléon, J.-G. Rémond recorded marks which were in accordance with the laws of the newly formed Département of Léman, i.e. his initials within a lozenge.

Estimation:€53,925.55

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