AUCTION: OCTOBER 16

PUBLIC EXHIBITION: OCTOBER 12 – 15

New York – Bonhams announces The Art of Time sale on October 16, comprising over 160 lots of fine watches and wristwatches together with two private collections of unusual clocks.  Among the highlights, the sale features 15 watches and wristwatches from the Collection of Nicole and William M. Keck II. The property will be sold to benefit charitable institutions around the world.

William M. Keck II was the grandson of the legendary oil wildcatter, William Myron Keck, the family patriarch who created one of the country’s largest philanthropic institutions: the W.M. Keck Foundation. Known as “W.M.” to the family, Bill’s grandfather and sole namesake founded The Superior Oil Company in Coalinga, CA in 1921, which – following decades of growth – was sold to Mobil Oil in 1984. At the time of the sale, Superior Oil Company was the largest independent oil producer in the country. Bill’s grandfather originally established seven separate foundations to further education and research in the fields of science, engineering, and social welfare. Among the numerous grants distributed over the years, the W.M. Keck Foundation may be best known for the construction of the W.M. Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and for its original funding of the programming for Sesame Street.

The Keck Collection includes the very rare Patek Philippe Ref. 2597 dual time zone wristwatch, (estimate: $70,000-90,000). The watch features an independently adjustable hour hand designed in the late 1950's by the renowned Louis Cottier. The Ref. 2597 was aimed at the sophisticated international air traveler encountering rapidly changing time zones. Made in 1960, this lot is one of the first series produced and the Gübelin signature on the dial adds to its rarity. This watch has never before been offered for sale.

The Art of Time is an apt description of clocks from the Collection of the late Larry Dalton and from the Collection of Dr. Eugene Antelis. Both collections feature rare mechanically unusual clocks that are highly decorative. The Dalton Collection is notable for its selection of fine French 19th century porcelain and enamel paneled carriage clocks and a unique industrial automaton by Pierre Calmel (estimate: $30,000-35,000). The Antelis Collection includes an important group of clocks by the Victorian London maker, Thomas Cole, whose whimsical designs include one in the form of a campfire (estimate: $12,000-18,000). Among the many fine 19th century English clocks is an exhibition quality large triple fusee quarter chiming musical skeleton clock in carved walnut vitrine by J. F. Cole, London (estimate: $40,000-60,000).

Additional highlights from the sale include:

• -L. Breguet. A very fine enameled gold pair case quarter repeating ruby cylinder watch for the Turkish market, circa 1810 (estimate: $25,000-35,000)
• A very fine exhibition quality large triple fusee quarter chiming musical skeleton clock in carved walnut vitrine, signed on the dial, J. F. Cole, London and on the frame, J. R. Losada, 105 Regent Street, London; the musical movement signed, Nicole Frères, mid-19th century (estimate: $40,000-60,000)
• An important gilt giant chronometer escapement quarter chiming carriage clock with perpetual calendar and moon phase, displaying the Equation of Time, on turntable base, signed, M. F. Dent, London, no 24128, circa 1862 (estimate: $40,000-60,000)