拍品專文
Made in 1993, this completely unique and superb example of one of Patek Philippe’s famous solar-powered ‘Dome’ clocks was decorated by Michèle Mauris, one of Patek Philippe’s most experienced enamellers using the ancient art of cloisonné enamelling to create a scene that successfully captures the atmosphere of nighttime and the species of owls that inhabit the nocturnal hours. This incredible work of art with entirely hand-made cloisonné enamel panels is certainly one of the most beautiful and appealing subjects so far seen on one of these unique and highly exclusive timepieces. Accompanied by the Patek Philippe fitted packaging and Extract from the Archives, it is named ‘Oiseau de Nuit’.
The three cloisonné enamel curved side panels feature branches of trees where owls survey the night sky, capturing the scenes with amazing realism, the dome is ingeniously decorated as a continuation of the side panel scenes and the shaped panels surrounding the dial continue the theme. The design is created by the highly skilled enamel artist using a variety of opaque and transparent enamel colours, each element requiring at least eight firings at a temperature of 850 degrees centigrade. The design requires several meters of 0.6 mm gold wire to form the cells or ‘cloisons’ which are then filled with enamel powder and fired.
The cloisonné enamel technique is only ever used by Patek Philippe for very small editions of timepieces or unique dome clocks. The very limited production is a result of the few artisans skilled enough to decorate the clock's challenging curved surfaces, exquisite works of art in their own right and highly appreciated in today's collector market. Since their launch in 1955, few examples of these clocks are produced every year, each unique by its individually decorated case featuring cloisonné enamel scenes or sometimes engraved or leather-covered with applied ornaments. The completion of one single clock can take up to a year, resulting in an exceptionally beautiful work of art.
Patek Philippe Dome Clocks
Patek Philippe launched the solar-powered dome clock in the mid-20th century. They boast lavish and uniquely decorated cases featuring engravings of varying pattern or cloisonné enamel scenes. Still in production today, most likely due to their continued popularity, they were made in three series.
First series: Produced in the 1950s and 1960s with a mechanical 17’’’250 E pocket watch movement powered through the solar panel in the dome, the number ‘17’ derived from the diameter measurement of the movement which comes from an old industrial measurement tradition whereby measurement was carried out using candle wicks in ‘lines’ or ‘lignes’, ‘250’ for the thickness, and ‘E’ for electric. The large solar panel supplies power to the cylindrical storage device which then transmits energy to wind the movement. The beauty of this patented mechanism allowing the clock to be functional in the dark. At the time, this patented technique was seen as revolutionary, Patek Philippe were seen as being able to “master the energy of light.”
Second series: Beginning in 1970, dome clocks were produced with Quartz movement with a smaller solar panel that seemed to have a higher position on the dome, becoming even smaller in the 1990s.
Third series: The only dome series with cell battery movement. This has a smaller solar panel or no solar panel seen from 2007 onwards.
The three cloisonné enamel curved side panels feature branches of trees where owls survey the night sky, capturing the scenes with amazing realism, the dome is ingeniously decorated as a continuation of the side panel scenes and the shaped panels surrounding the dial continue the theme. The design is created by the highly skilled enamel artist using a variety of opaque and transparent enamel colours, each element requiring at least eight firings at a temperature of 850 degrees centigrade. The design requires several meters of 0.6 mm gold wire to form the cells or ‘cloisons’ which are then filled with enamel powder and fired.
The cloisonné enamel technique is only ever used by Patek Philippe for very small editions of timepieces or unique dome clocks. The very limited production is a result of the few artisans skilled enough to decorate the clock's challenging curved surfaces, exquisite works of art in their own right and highly appreciated in today's collector market. Since their launch in 1955, few examples of these clocks are produced every year, each unique by its individually decorated case featuring cloisonné enamel scenes or sometimes engraved or leather-covered with applied ornaments. The completion of one single clock can take up to a year, resulting in an exceptionally beautiful work of art.
Patek Philippe Dome Clocks
Patek Philippe launched the solar-powered dome clock in the mid-20th century. They boast lavish and uniquely decorated cases featuring engravings of varying pattern or cloisonné enamel scenes. Still in production today, most likely due to their continued popularity, they were made in three series.
First series: Produced in the 1950s and 1960s with a mechanical 17’’’250 E pocket watch movement powered through the solar panel in the dome, the number ‘17’ derived from the diameter measurement of the movement which comes from an old industrial measurement tradition whereby measurement was carried out using candle wicks in ‘lines’ or ‘lignes’, ‘250’ for the thickness, and ‘E’ for electric. The large solar panel supplies power to the cylindrical storage device which then transmits energy to wind the movement. The beauty of this patented mechanism allowing the clock to be functional in the dark. At the time, this patented technique was seen as revolutionary, Patek Philippe were seen as being able to “master the energy of light.”
Second series: Beginning in 1970, dome clocks were produced with Quartz movement with a smaller solar panel that seemed to have a higher position on the dome, becoming even smaller in the 1990s.
Third series: The only dome series with cell battery movement. This has a smaller solar panel or no solar panel seen from 2007 onwards.
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