Patek Philippe An extremely fine and unique gilt brass solar power dome clock with cloisonné enamel scene “Rooster” by Derrcle, with Patek Philippe fitted presentation box
220mm. Height
The polychrome enamel dome features a goddess holding an orb in each hand with a moon on one side and the sun on the other. Set against a dark blue-green enamel background, the goddess has luminous red flowing hair and set in a dark purple lunette. The white crescent moon is set within a dark purple lunette, as is the orange enamel sun. The scene is enhanced with white enamel stars and green leaves. The case with four polychrome cloisonné enamel panels each with a representation of a bird. The colors from the dome repeat throughout the four panels. The Rooster is symbolic of the beginning of the new day, as well as resurrection, while the owl is a symbol of night.
Apart from the roosters, the dome clock also depicts owls, doves and a goddess who exudes a sense of decorum unlikely to be missed by its beholders. According to our research, the goddess depicted here might have been Athena. In Greek mythology, a little owl (Athene noctua) traditionally represents or accompanies Athena. Athena is also traditionally related to roosters. According to Nilsson, Athena was a bird goddess in early times. In very nice original condition, the present clock is signed by the enameller Derrcle and it is the the only known Patek Philippe enamel dome clock by the artist. The present dome clock is a fine example of the cloisonné enamel clocks produced by Patek Philippe during the mid-20th-century. This clocks featured an electronically wound movement powered through the domed solar cells an innovation by the firms Electronic Division, which opened in 1948.