Gustave Jacot enamelled silver pocket watch depicting Muzzafar al-Din Shah Qajar
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1900
According to Bonhams, this pocket watch was produced by Gustave Jacot in Le Locle, Switzerland, dating to circa 1900. Housed in a silver case, the front lid features an oval polychrome enamel portrait medallion identified by the auction house as depicting Muzzafar al-Din Shah Qajar (reg.
1896–1907), framed by engine-turned engraving. The case is stamped 'GUSTAVE JACOT LOCLE 0.875 84' alongside pseudo-English hallmarks. The auction house reports a white and black enamel dial bearing Arabic numerals, floral decoration, and a Turkish inscription naming Burhanzade Ali Vehbi of İzmir, driven by a Swiss lever movement with a cut and compensated bimetallic balance.
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
- Type
- Enamelled pocket watch
- Case markings
- GUSTAVE JACOT LOCLE 0.875 84 and pseudo-English hallmarks
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Case decoration
- Polychrome enamel portrait of the shah on silver
- Dial description
- White and black enamel dial with Arabic numerals and Turkish inscription
- Inscribed merchant
- Burhanzade 'Ali Vehbi Izmir
- Maker / attribution
- Gustave Jacot
- Escapement and balance
- Swiss lever with cut and compensated bi-metallic balance
Design
- Visible features
- • Centrally positioned oval enamel medallion depicting a uniformed portrait with a feathered headdress against a black background. • Engine-turned patterned engraving surrounding the central enamel oval on the silver case front. • Shaped silver suspension bow and round pendant positioned at 12 o'clock.
- Dial and Movement
- The auction catalogue describes the watch as having a white and black enamel dial featuring Arabic numerals and floral decoration. The internal mechanism is reported as a Swiss lever movement with a cut and compensated bi-metallic balance. These internal components and the dial face were not physically observed as the provided image displays only the closed watch.
- Case Construction and Exterior
- The watch is housed in a silver case featuring a polychrome enamel portrait medallion on the front lid. The case is stamped 'GUSTAVE JACOT LOCLE 0.875 84' and includes pseudo-English hallmarks. A silver suspension bow and round pendant are located at the 12 o'clock position. The object measures 7 cm in maximum length.
- Object Identity and Provenance
- The timepiece is attributed to Gustave Jacot of Le Locle, Switzerland, and is dated by the auction house to circa 1900. The dial bears an inscription in Turkish identifying the merchant Burhanzade Ali Vehbi of İzmir, noted by the source as an importer of watches and clocks active during the late Ottoman period. The front of the case features an enamel portrait identified by the auction house as Muzzafar al-Din Shah Qajar (reigned 1896–1907). No provenance documentation prior to the current auction lot is provided.
Identification
- 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 dial and movement are described in the catalogue text but are not visible in the provided photograph of the closed case.
- Research required: Internal hallmarks and maker stamps are not visible in the exterior photograph.