form watch(star);
watch-case
- Museum number
- 1888,1201.193
- Description
-
GILT-BRASS AND ROCK-CRYSTAL CASED VERGE WATCH IN THE FORM OF A STAR.
:
CASE
Case in the form of a six-point star. The gilt brass rims and hinged bezel engraved with foliate decoration. The band consists of 12 separate pieces of glass glued to the upper and lower rims. Star shaped hinged lid and hinged back, each set with a shaped and bevelled glass. The gilt-brass pendant and finial are attached to cross-bars with hinge elements at each end.
:
DIAL & HAND:
In the shape of a six-point star. The gilt-brass dial is engraved in the six outer triangles with personifications of the ruling planets for the days of the week (Monday-Saturday). Applied silver chapter-ring with Roman hours I-XII and heart-shaped half-hour marks surrounding an inner circle with dots at the hours. In the central area an engraved depiction of Apollo in his chariot (the sun god for Sunday). Blued steel hand the tail now missing. The under-dial case catch is now missing.
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MOVEMENT
FRAME
Star-shaped gilt-brass plates with six baluster pillars. Riveted potence and riveted counter-potence. The pillar-plate has a central recess with a separate riveted bridge. Engraved decoration around the verge aperture.
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MAINSPRING & SET-UP
Gilt-brass barrel with dovetailed cap and riveted steel hook. Ratchet and click set-up with a gilt-brass pierced foliate click.
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FUSEE & STOP-WORK
Gilt-brass fusee with 12 turns and a single hole for gut-line attachment. Standard stop-work, the spring probably replaced.
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TRAIN
Three-wheel train of gilt-brass wheels, the second wheel and contrate pinion pivoting in a separate bridge on the pillar-plate. Second and contrate wheels with three crossings.
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ESCAPEMENT & BALANCE
Verge escapement with steel two-arm balance.
:
BALANCE COCK
Screwed-on balance cock, pierce and engraved with foliate decoration. There is a central hole in the cock foot for the winding square.
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TRAIN COUNT
Great wheel:55
Second wheel:45 pinion:5
Contrate wheel:40 pinion:5
Crown wheel:17 pinion:5
:
Beats per hour:22,440
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MOTION WORK/DURATION
Pinion of report:3
Dial wheel 30
Fusee:13 turns
Duration:15.6 hours
- Production date
- 1625-1635
- Dimensions
-
Thickness: 18.50 millimetres
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Width: 31.80 millimetres (case [across points])
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
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The case is not completely original, only the lid and back are properly gilded. The case probably originally contained a single piece of rock-crystal which has been broken and lost, and later replaced with the present glass panels. The potence-plate has been reduced in size to such an extent the the last letter of the signature is no longer present. It seems likely that the case was found to be too small after reconstruction necessitating the reduction in the plate size to allow it to fit.
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Baillie, G.H., WATCHES, 1929, plate XXII/3, pp.113,115.
Cardinal, Catherine, LA MONTRE, p.33, illus.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Latest: 3 (2017)
- Acquisition date
- 1888
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1888,1201.193
