EDWARD PRIOR LONDON, Switzerland, late 19th/early 20th centu - Lot 243

EDWARD PRIOR LONDON, Switzerland, late 19th/early 20th century Exceptional and rare 18k yellow gold and enamel pocket watch. White enamel dial with black painted Turkish numerals for the hours and chemin de fer for the minutes, signed. Subdial at 6 o'clock for the seconds. Round case on hinges, gold bowl with hallmarks and numbering. Engraved on the reverse with a flowery bouquet on a guilloché background set in a circular cartouche of stylized leafy interlacing, the chased and enameled front features a radiant composition of arms and flags symmetrically distributed around a central medallion surmounted by a turban and tughra whose calligraphy corresponds to that of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire. The whole is underlined by interlacing flowers. To the left of the composition are the scales of justice, surmounted by a Koran and the book of Ottoman law. Hand-wound mechanical movement, anchor escapement, spiral balance. Movement signed, engraved with "'Gold Medals Grand Diploma of Honour". Engraved with a Turkish inscription. Gross weight: 138.80gr. Diameter: 54mm (Missing enamel, small accident to dial). Provenance: This watch was given as a gift to Dr. Emin ERKUL - who was the first governor of Istanbul after the proclamation of the Republic - by Cheick SENOUSSI, who is said to have received it from Sultan Resat, whose engraved cartouche crowns the enameled part. This watch displays strong symbols of Ottoman power: the central position of the turban from which the rays emanate shows the great influence of the Ottoman dynasty over a variety of nations and ethnic groups symbolized by the flowers hanging from the branch. The red Sultanate and green Caliphate flags framing the tughra recall the Sultan's dual political and religious power. Finally, the halberds, spears, sabres and cannons all around symbolize the power of his armies.