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| Index No. A6401 | Rare 17th Century Rock Crystal Clockwatch |
| A rare early 17th Century German verge clockwatch with the bell under the dial in a gilt metal and rock crystal case. Deep full plate fire gilt oval movement with turned baluster pillars. Fusee and "gut" with blue steel ratchet barrel setup on the plate, elaborate gilt pierced and engraved retaining click. Small pierced and engraved cock with irregular shaped table, pierced and engraved foot. Plain steel two arm balance without balance spring. Small scale lightly engraved close to the cock for a hogs bristle regulator (the "S" later). Going and striking trains with five leaf pinions, engraved resting barrel for the strike. Silver count wheel, pierced and engraved gate mounted on a blue steel arbor. Unusually the bell for the strike is situated between the movement and the dial, the arbor for the hand running through the centre. Octagonal dial plate with a pierced and engraved octagonal gallery above. Simple small silvered dial with engraved Roman numerals, later single blue steel hand. Octagonal rock crystal body to the case, faceted back, oval opening for the movement. Gilt mounts and finial, later gilt pendant. | ||
| Signed | M K | |
| Circa | 1620 | |
| Dimensions | 37 x 77 x 35 mm | ||
| A very rare and interesting piece. Baillie records the initials "MK" as Mathias Kessborer, Ulm, early 17th Century, octagonal crystal watch.. A very similar watch is preserved by the E Gschwind Foundation in Basle. That example, by Konrad Krieser, also has a simple dial but with Turkish numerals. The rock crystal, although damaged, is in fine original condition. The gilt cover is contemporary to the rest of the watch. The mounting for the pendant on rock crystal cases is exceedingly delicate causing them to be broken within days or weeks of use. The workmanship is so similar on the plate that the maker may have had the crystal repaired before delivery to the owner. The restoration to the movement detracts little from the watch as the conversion to balance spring and back again have caused almost no damage. Most of the small number of watches from this period to have survived are now in museums. This is a rare opportunity to own one. |
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