Arthur à Paris 20K gold and painted enamel pocket watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1760
This 20K gold pocket watch is signed 'Arthur à Paris' and numbered 497. The piece dates to approximately 1760, supported by the Paris hallmarks present on the case.
The watch features a white enamel dial with Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minute track, paired with gold Louis XV style hands. The two-body gold case is decorated with chased geometrical patterns and champlevé enameled flowers on the bezel. The gilt brass, full-plate movement is powered by a fusee with chain and features a verge escapement with a micrometric potence adjustment. The movement is signed and includes a silver regulation dial.
Jean Arthur was active in Paris from approximately 1755 to 1810.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- Circa 1760
- Type
- Painted enamel pocket watch
- Maker
- Jean Arthur
- Signed
- Dial and movement
- Decoration
- Champlevé enamel flowers and painted scene
- Dial details
- White enamel with Roman and Arabic numerals
- Case material
- 20K gold
- Movement type
- Gilt brass, full plate, verge escapement
- Place recorded
- France
- Maker / attribution
- Jean Arthur
Design
- Visible features
- • Painted enamel scene on the case back showing a figure receiving a bunion treatment • Chased rocaille and geometrical decorations on the case border • Presence of an enamel dial with radial Roman numerals • Visible winding hole on the white enamel dial
- Case and Dial Design
- The bezel is embellished with a chased geometrical pattern interspersed with painted champlevé enameled flowers. The case back serves as a canvas for a detailed painted enamel scene, which depicts an elderly gentleman undergoing treatment for a bunion. This scene is surrounded by an outer border featuring chased rocaille and geometric motifs. The enamel scene on the case back has been associated with the work of David II Teniers the Younger, an Antwerp-born painter known for his genre scenes. The watch retains its original white enamel dial, which displays radial Roman numerals for the hours. An outer minute track utilizes Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals, facilitating precise time reading. The dial is completed with gold Louis XV hands and bears the signature 'Arthur' as well as the location 'A PARIS'. A winding aperture is positioned on the dial.
- Movement and Mechanism
- The timepiece is powered by a 37 mm gilt brass, full-plate movement. The construction incorporates pentagonal baluster pillars and a traditional fusee with chain mechanism. For the escapement, the watch employs a verge system, enhanced with a micrometric potence adjustment to allow for fine regulation. The balance wheel is a plain steel three-armed type, complemented by a gilt brass continental cock. The cock is finished with a polished steel endpiece, adding to the decorative quality of the movement. A silver regulation dial is included to assist in timekeeping adjustments, and both the dial and the movement are signed by the maker.
- Provenance and Attribution
- The watch is attributed to Jean Arthur, a Parisian horologist who received his master title in 1757. Records suggest his active period in Paris spanned from approximately 1755 to 1810. The production of the case is anchored by Paris hallmarks dating to 1760, providing a reliable timeframe for the watch's assembly. However, this attribution remains a hypothesis, with the auction description noting it is 'probably' derived from his work.
Identification
- Serial number
- 497
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The painted enamel scene on the case back is only 'probably' after David II Teniers the Younger
- Research required: Condition reports indicate minor chips and 'lacking elements' in the case