20203M-001

A golden mountain This unique piece in Grand Feu cloisonné enamel pays tribute to the painting entitled “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains”, a masterpiece of classical Chinese art of the twelfth century and the only surviving creation by the artist Wang Ximeng (1096-1119), a young prodigy active under the Northern Song dynasty. The plates were first brushed to achieve the appearance of canvas. Next, the artisan enameller drew in the contours of the mountain landscape depicted in the original painting, using about 5.35 m of gold wire (~14.25 g). He then reproduced the subtle shades of the “blue-and-green” artistic style developed during the Song period (960-1279), using a palette of transparent and opaque enamels in 5 colors. A further 14 colors of miniature painting on enamel allowed him to perfect his picture by portraying the houses and boats seen on the work by Wang Ximeng. Each enameled plate underwent 16 firings at a temperature of approximately 750°C. The hour circle in green lacquer frames a dial center adorned with a sunburst motif, shining through translucent blue enamel. The transfer-printed Chinese numerals are powdered with yellow gold, harmonizing with gilt leaf-shaped hands. This clock is powered by a 17’’’ PEND mechanical movement rewound by an electric motor.