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$Vacheron Constantin Tribal Mask Watches 2009 - Metiers d\'Art Les Masques$

Vacheron Constantin Tribal Mask Watches 2009 - Metiers d’Art Les Masques

Complementing prior first and second set of Tribal Mask Watch, Geneva-based manufacturer, VACHERON CONSTANTIN has released their third and final set of THE COLLECTION MÉTIERS D’ART “LES MASQUES”. It includes China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Gabon Mask Watches, representing four different continents (the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania) in limited edition of 25 boxes. Each contains four timepieces for a total of 100 individual pieces.

VACHERON CONSTANTIN METIER D’ART “LES MASQUES” is a collaborative project between the exceptional watchmaker VACHERON CONSTANTIN and one of the world’s finest museums of primitive art - THE BARBIER-MUELLER MUSEUM, initiated four years ago in 2005. The Barbier-Mueller Museum had agreed to entrust a few precious pieces of its collection to the Manufacture on the strict condition that they produced a very faithful reproduction of the original masks.

Vacheron Constantin Les Masques 2007: Indonesia, Alaska, China, Congo Tribal Mask Watches

In 2007, the manufacturer released their first set of limited edition TRIBAL MASK WATCHES featuring China’s QIDAN Death Mask, Congo’s MAHONGWE Death Mask, Alaska’s TLINGIT INDIANS Frontal Mask, and Indonesia’s WAYANG TOPENG Facial Mask.

Vacheron Constantin Metiers d’Art Les Masques 2008 Tribal Mask Watches: Japan, Gabon, Mexico, Papua New Guinea

Vacheron Constantin Metiers d’Art Les Masques 2008 Tribal Mask Watches:
Japan, Gabon, Mexico, Papua New Guinea

A year later in 2008, VACHERON CONSTANTIN introduced their second set of “Les Masques” collections featuring Japan’s EDO Ritual Buddha Mask, Gabon’s KWELE Pibibuze Mask, Mexico’s MAYA Mask-shaped censer, and Papua New Guinea’s LOW RAMU Brag Mask.

The third and final set is released this year 2009.

Paying tribute to the Métiers d’Art watchmakers, and more particularly to engraving, it took three years to complete the collections. A set of four models were produced per year; each was issued in a limited edition of twenty-five. These twelve watches are faithful reproductions in miniature of twelve original masks from the private Barbier-Mueller collection that come from four regions of the world rich in tribal art.

Instead of using the original materials of the masks which are commonly impracticable, the company chose gold, a noble, precious metal which can be finely worked, coloured and treated. Different types of gold produce different effects. In addition, the team of designer incorporates alchemy, using galvanic and chemical formulae found in old books. A chemist’s bench was recreated complete with traditional alembics. They also developed a novel system of protective coating: small deposits of copper on gold, which were then oxidised. Within no time at all, the mask looked thousands of years old.

Once the form of the prototype had been defined and the first model made, the engraver worked delicately on the reliefs, embossments and hollows and chiselling away at the rough patches to reproduce the details on the masks. It took all his expertise to render such effects as the exact marks left by the sculptor’s burin, to carve out the eyes, paying close attention to the effects of time, and to follow the same contours made by others centuries earlier and on distant continents.

The Third and Final Set of VACHERON CONSTANTIN MÉTIERS D’ART “LES MASQUES” COLLECTIONS – 2009

ASIA - CHINA MASK WATCH
Reference number: 86070/000J-9400 for the 18K yellow gold version

$China Zang\'s Bag Facial Mask Watch - Vacheron Constantin Metier d\'Art Les Masques$

China Zang’s Bag Facial Mask Watch - Vacheron Constantin Metier d’Art Les Masques

This ZANG’S BAG FACIAL MASK of TANTRIM BUDDHISM seems to emanate a profound sacredness and mystery. And yet the highly naturalistic nose reminds us that this figure with its frozen expression has a human side. The divine is expressed by the strange MANDORLA, placed like a jewel on the forehead of the mask and surrounding a painted eye. Designed with great sophistication, a frieze of arabesques and volutes of gold covers the empty frames. This type of ZANG’S BAG MASK is worn by certain monks of dGe-lugs-pa yellow hat sect in TIBET REGION in 16th – 17th century. The masks were used in dances related to the cult of Kâlacakra (the Wheel of Time).

Vacheron Constantin Le Masques - Tibet Zang Tantrim Buddhism Mask Watch

With my ornaments I surround
the emptiness opening in your eyes
and in your mouth a third
eye appearing on the forehead
to guide you in your labours
in the labyrinth of your lives
and those of your children
who continue your adventures
Michel Butor

OCEANIA - INDONESIA MASK WATCH
Reference number: 86070/000G-9399 for the 18K white gold version.

$Indonesia\'s Sasak Facial Mask Watch - Vacheron Constantin Metier d\'Art Les Masques$

Indonesia’s Sasak Facial Mask Watch - Vacheron Constantin Metier d’Art Les Masques

As struck with amazement, this Facial Mask of SASAK PEOPLE in LOMBOK ISLAND features realistic and geometric opening of large eyes. It represents an old man as recognized by his sunken cheeks, dark rings under the eyebrows, and especially the wrinkles that furrow its brow and the folds between the nose and mouth. The character of the old man appears regularly in BALINESE WAYANG TOPENG theatre. The masked actors remain silent because they take the mask between their teeth, by a leather thong, leaving the narrator and singers carried the story and verbally tell the heroes’ adventures.

$Vacheron Constantin Indonesia\'s Lombok Mask Watch$

Vacheron Constantin Indonesia’s Lombok Mask Watch

I dance the duration the wait
patience the resistance
to suffering and to evil
the slowness of the days and nights
stammerings recognition
resignation but vigilance
the hasty passage of the months
and the devouring of the months
Michel Butor

AMERICAS - MEXICO MASK WATCH
Reference number: 86070/000P-9401 for the 950 Platinum version

$Mexico Mescala\'s Pendant Mask Watch - Vacheron Constantin Metier d\'Art Les Masques$

Mexico Mescala’s Pendant Mask Watch - Vacheron Constantin Metier d’Art Les Masques

Mixing the influences of many cultures into a singular style, this MEXICO PENDANT MASK expresses the artist’s virtuosity. Its powerful and austere profile consists of both abstract and naturalistic traits. The upper part of the face and the diagonal of the cheek are treated in minimalist fashion; by contrast, the aquiline nose and down-turned mouth seem much more realistic. This mask belongs to the MEZCALA CULTURE (300 – 100 BC) in STATE OF GUERRERO. During the classical period, these people practiced the custom of burying the dead under the mud floors of their dwellings. According to the ritual linked to the ancestral worship of the dead, the tombs were full of small hard-stone sculptures representing asexual human figures, heads, plaques decorated with faces, masks and animal effigies.

Vacheron Constantin Ameriques Mexico Mask Watch

At regular intervals
during the dance I come and strike
the heart whose pulse
races at the screams
reverberating off the walls
that protect us from the ghosts
of felines and enemies
who venture onto our land
Michel Butor

AFRICA - GABON MASK WATCH
Reference number: 86070/000R-9402 for the 5N 18K pink gold version

$Gabon Fang\'s Mask Watch - Vacheron Constantin Metier d\'Art Les Masques$

Gabon Fang’s Mask Watch - Vacheron Constantin Metier d’Art Les Masques

With its melancholic air and o-shaped mouth, this WHITE MASK reflects a stunning sculptural sensibility. It is covered entirely with white kaolin, a colour which for the FANG people in WESTERN GABON, as for many other African tribes, referred to the spirit of dead. The expressive power of the face is the vertical line that evokes both the nose and the scarification from the chin to forehead and from which emerge the two eyebrows and regular curves. This mask was used during a ritual dance to the BYERI’s cult of ancestor worship. Although its use was not an eminent sacred, yet the initiated dancer must comply with specific rituals and some prohibited (taboos). These dances were supposed to protect the village against witchcraft and evil companies.

Vacheron Constantin Afrique Gabon Mask Watch

The line of my nose extending
between the eyebrows on my forehead
and on the other side to
my chin across my mouth
is like an arrow fi red
by a bow towards the celestial heights
beyond the clouds
or naturally the bird
into which your soul changes
Michel Butor

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Calibre: VC 2460 G4, self-winding mechanical, stamped Poinçon de Genève
Thickness of movement: 3.60 mm; 6.05 mm with additional plate
Diameter of movement: 25.60 mm, or 11½ lignes
Jewelling: 27 rubies
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour
Power reserve: Approx. 40 hours
Indications and functions: Displayed in 4 windows on the case rim:; hours with dragging disc, minutes with dragging disc, day with semi-jumping disc, date with semi-jumping disc
Diameter: 40 mm with sapphire crystal back
Water-resistance: 3 bar, equivalent to 30 metres
Dial: Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Strap: Mississipiensis alligator, hand-stitched, High shiny finish, dark brown
Clasp: 18K gold or 950 platinum folding clasp, Half Maltese Cross