Flournoy à Paris

A RARE GOLD MOUNTED SINGLE CASED PORCELAIN WATCH WITH POLYCHROME ENAMEL PAINTED PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN ATTRIBUTED TO MEISSEN CIRCA 1750

• Movement: gilded full plate, verge escapement, plain flat balance, decoratively pierced balance bridge engraved with scrolling foliage, silver regulation plate, turned baluster pillars, fusee and chain, signed Flournoy à Paris
• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, gilt filigree hands, aperture for winding
• Case: porcelain back attributed to Meissen painted with a portrait of an unidentified gentleman wearing a plumed hat and cape, the bezel with later polychrome enamel painted panels of summer flowers, the inside back plain white, chased and engraved mounts
diameter 41mm

Provenance:
Meissen employed several very capable miniaturist painters, amongst whom was Johann Jacob Wagner who may be responsible for the portrait on the present watch case. Wagner was the son of a court goldsmith from Eisenach, he was employed at Meissen in 1738 and soon acquired a reputation for painting fine portraits; his work is more usually found on the lids of snuff boxes.