Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai 'Amida Falls'

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL HOKUSAI ‘AMIDA FALLS’

OVERVIEW

UNITING EUROPEAN CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH JAPANESE ART

In its latest homage to art, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces a limited edition of 10 pieces, the Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai ‘Amida Falls’, honouring the work of the 19th-century Japanese master, Katsushika Hokusai. The case-back of the new timepiece is decorated with a hand-enamelled miniature reproduction of The Amida Falls in the Far Reaches of the Kisokaidō Road (Kisoji no oku Amida-ga-taki), the best known work from A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku taki meguri), a series of eight woodblock prints created by the artist in 1833–34.

CRAFTSMANSHIP

A WORK OF PRECISION AND ARTISTRY

For almost two millennia, a two-way cultural exchange between Asia and Europe has had a profound influence on every art form of both East and West – and the new Reverso continues the dialogue between Eastern and Western artistic traditions that La Grande Maison has embraced throughout its history. Complementing the exquisite tribute to the art form of woodblock printing on the case-back, the dial is anchored in the Western craft traditions of guillochage and Grand Feu enamel.

CELEBRATING A GREAT JAPANESE MASTER

In the 19th century, Hokusai was among a handful of Japanese artists who elevated the ancient practice of woodblock printing from popular, “low” art to high art form, thanks to his innovations in subject matter, colour and composition. His ‘Waterfalls’ series – produced when he was in his seventies – is considered by many art historians to be among the finest landscapes ever produced. The best known of the series, ‘Amida Falls’ epitomises the artist’s fascination with the power of cascading water and monumental land forms, which dwarf the human figures enjoying a picnic nearby.

MINIATURE GRAND FEU ENAMEL

To capture the power of Hokusai’s original image and faithfully reproduce every detail on a surface of just three square centimetres – a little more than one-tenth the size of the original – Jaeger-LeCoultre’s master artisan had not only to miniaturise and perfectly mimic every detail of the composition but also to create the illusion of the woodblock printing technique. To achieve this, the enameller had to develop a special technique that reproduces the characteristic bokashi effect of the subtly nuanced and graduated colours of works originally printed on paper, while also capturing the vivid blues and yellows that are a signature of Hokusai’s work. It is a carefully orchestrated process of many stages, which represents a full 70 hours of work over the course of many weeks, including a total of 12–15 separate firings at 800 degrees Celsius.

A HYPNOTIC DIAL

The simplicity of the Reverso Tribute dial – with its faceted appliqué hour-markers and Dauphine hands – places full value on the beauty of its decoration. Complementing the miniature painting on the case back, this dial is decorated with a guilloché lozenge pattern – the texture of which is amplified by translucent Grand Feu enamel in a rich shade of green.

Executed by hand, using a century-old lathe, the lozenge pattern requires great dexterity and skill: holding the dial plate at a carefully calculated angle, each of the 60 lines that make up the pattern requires three passages of the lathe. This is followed by the application of at least six layers of translucent enamel. Once the enamelling has been completed, the final challenge is the faultless application of the indexes and the transfer of the chemin de fer minutes register. Overall, this entire process for the dial takes over 40 hours to complete.

HERITAGE

THE BIRTH OF AN ICON

In 1931, Jaeger-LeCoultre launched a timepiece that was destined to become a classic of 20th-century design: the Reverso. As an object that so deftly synthesised form and function, it has become one of the most recognisable watches of all time, looking as fresh and modern today as when it first appeared.

While its blank metal flip side had begun as a purely functional solution to avoid damage to the dial, it was an ideal surface for personalisation with monograms, emblems or personal messages using lacquer, engraving, enamel or gemstones.

COLLECTION

CREATING STORIES SINCE 1931

Being the perfect canvas for artistic expression, personalisation has been at the core of Reverso since its creation. With 180 skills under one roof, the Atelier de Metiers Rares of Jaeger-LeCoultre is the perfect place to bring personalisation to life. From engraving to enamelling, the back of the Reverso offers endless possibilities for a made to order creation among different combinations of dial motifs and colours. Swivelling its case allows one to unfold its own story.