Patek Philippe & Co., Genève

A FINE AND RARE GOLD OPEN-FACED KEYLESS LEVER WATCH WITH ENAMEL PORTRAIT MINIATURE SIGNED BY CHARLES-LOUIS GLARDON 1868, NO. 34.646

• Movement: 19''' damascened, lever escapement, bi-metallic compensation balance, wolf's tooth winding, signed and numbered Patek Philippe & Co., no.34646
• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring with Arabic 5-minute divisions, sunken subsidiary seconds with Arabic 10-second divisions, blued steel hands
• Case: 18ct pink gold, the back with polychrome enamel portrait miniature of a lady signed C. Glardon, gold border of chased and engraved scrolling foliage, milled bezels, plain polished band
diameter 48mm

Provenance:
Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming production in 1868 and sale on 29 March 1871. The Extract further confirms the watch with painted portrait noting: "portrait painted on case back with guilloché frame knurled bezel".

The portrait miniature was painted by the artist Charles-Louis Glardon (1825-1887). Glardon was a Swiss enameller made famous by his exceptionally fine enamel portraits. He was a very talented draughtsman who aimed to 'paint on the paste exactly as one paints on a canvas' (Emaux et Miniatures, Musée d'art et d'histoire, Genève, 1955, p. 20). He was trained by his equally famous and talented brother Jacques Aimé Glardon (1815-1862 ).