Pocket watch: an absolute rarity, a verge watch with a concealed erotic

Ca. 45 mm in diameter, ca. 98 g, extremely rare three-part case, hinged on both sides, crafted in green gold and pink gold, high relief in three colours on the reverse, depicting a couple in love during a marriage proposal, beneath the back cover a curved enamel painting depicting an erotic scene, Bell, signed Joseph Bertrand Paris No. 826, repeater for the hours and quarter-hours, very well-preserved enamel dial and gold hands, movement intact and very well preserved, striking mechanism strikes but requires adjustment. Verge watches featuring erotic paintings only came into fashion around 1800. Earlier examples are extremely rare, and only a few are known to exist today. What makes this particular example sensationally rare, however, is that it also features a movement with a repeater.

Estimate:£4,247.15

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