Interviews
News Flash
Evening Sale of Watches to come with Spring Auction
06 Apr '09
5 min read
By 1885, the King undertook new projects in spite of the fact that he was 14 million marks in debt. Since he had not followed his ministers' advice, they started seeking a cause to depose him by constitutional means. They finally decided that he was mentally ill and unable to rule. In June 1896, a report, declaring in its final sentences that he suffered from paranoia, was finalized and signed by a panel of four psychiatrists, who had never met the King, nor examined him. On June 12, Ludwig was arrested and transported to Castle Berg on the shores of Lake Starnberg. The day after, the King's body was found in the shallow water. His mysterious death remains unsolved to this day.
Ironically, the castles which were said to be causing the King's financial ruin have today become extremely profitable tourist attractions for the Bavarian state. The palaces have paid for themselves many times over and attract millions of tourists from all over the world to Germany each year.
POCKET WATCHES
Among the other pocket watches to be offered for sale are a fine gold and enamel pre-hair spring verge watch with decorative bezel enamelled en ronde bosse by Isaac Gravelle, circa 1660 (est. CHF 30,000-50,000 / $27,000-44,000 / € 20,000- 30,000) and a gold, enamel and pearl-set cylinder, pair cased clockwatch, n°25719, made by George Prior, London, circa 1800 (est. CHF 12,000-15,000 / $10,000-12,000 / €8,000- 10,000 / illustrated left). Son of John Prior of Nessfield, who was also a clock-maker, George was a leading London maker of watches for the Turkish and Islamic markets, in association with Edward Prior, possibly his brother. On two occasions he received an award from the Society of Arts for its productions. Both timepieces come from the property of distinguished European collectors.
Another exceptional example of watch making is a fine and heavy pink gold hunter cased minute repeating perpetual calendar chronograph keyless lever watch with moon phases and register, No 80076, made by Patek Philippe in 1880 (est. CHF 120,000-180,000 / $ 106,000-160,000 / € 78,000-118,000 / illustrated right). The sale also includes a very rare and small gilt brass drum clock, dated 1550, probably Blois school (est. CHF 25,000-35,000 / $22,000-30,000 / € 16,000-23,000) as well as several fantasy watches in the form of cherries, apples and a tortoise carrying estimates starting from CHF 6,000 / $ 5,000 / € 3,900.
Click here to view more:
Ironically, the castles which were said to be causing the King's financial ruin have today become extremely profitable tourist attractions for the Bavarian state. The palaces have paid for themselves many times over and attract millions of tourists from all over the world to Germany each year.
POCKET WATCHES
Among the other pocket watches to be offered for sale are a fine gold and enamel pre-hair spring verge watch with decorative bezel enamelled en ronde bosse by Isaac Gravelle, circa 1660 (est. CHF 30,000-50,000 / $27,000-44,000 / € 20,000- 30,000) and a gold, enamel and pearl-set cylinder, pair cased clockwatch, n°25719, made by George Prior, London, circa 1800 (est. CHF 12,000-15,000 / $10,000-12,000 / €8,000- 10,000 / illustrated left). Son of John Prior of Nessfield, who was also a clock-maker, George was a leading London maker of watches for the Turkish and Islamic markets, in association with Edward Prior, possibly his brother. On two occasions he received an award from the Society of Arts for its productions. Both timepieces come from the property of distinguished European collectors.
Another exceptional example of watch making is a fine and heavy pink gold hunter cased minute repeating perpetual calendar chronograph keyless lever watch with moon phases and register, No 80076, made by Patek Philippe in 1880 (est. CHF 120,000-180,000 / $ 106,000-160,000 / € 78,000-118,000 / illustrated right). The sale also includes a very rare and small gilt brass drum clock, dated 1550, probably Blois school (est. CHF 25,000-35,000 / $22,000-30,000 / € 16,000-23,000) as well as several fantasy watches in the form of cherries, apples and a tortoise carrying estimates starting from CHF 6,000 / $ 5,000 / € 3,900.
Click here to view more:
Sotheby's Holdings Inc
Popular News
Leave your Comments
Editor’s Pick
Esteemed Clients
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
