Important Collectors’ Wristwatches Po...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 21, 1995

LOT 840

I. G. K. (Johann Georg Kreittmayr ?) German, circa 1625 Fine and very rare small gilt-metal, gold, enamel and rock-crystal stackfreed watch.

CHF 44,000 - 48,000

C.Two body, gilt-brass front frame only with chevron engraved border, hinged to pierced and engraved mounting brackets with loose-ring pendant and button final. Octagonal faceted rock crystal cover and back. D. Octagonal, with gilt brass dial plate with gold plaque, champlevé enamelled with black Roman chapters, the centre and surround with floral sprays in green blue and umber translucent enamel. Single blued-steel tulip pattern hand. M. Oval, gilt-brass plates, turned balluster pillars, engraved fixed barrel with going arbour, three wheel train with verge escapement, two-arm steel balance without spring, irregular florally pierced and engraved cock. C-scroll steel stackfreed with curved friction blade, 25 tooth brass stop-wheel with engraved brass cam. Pierced and engraved hog's bristle regulator. Signed on the movement. hr very good condition. Dim. 45 x 24 mm.


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Notes

As with all attributions based on initiais (uniess firm documentary evidence exists to the contrary), there remains a strong element of conjecture. However amongst the recorded German watchmakers Johann Georg Kreittmayr is virtually alone in having suitable dates and initiais. According to Abeler, he was a Burger in 1634 and died in Munich in 1664. The use of a gold dial plaque on a gilt-metal watch may appear to be an anomaly, but is in fact quite correct in view of the enamel decoration. Although watch cases enamelled on brass are known to exist, ( see Gschwind, Stackfreed Exhibition, Geneva,1979, No.4) the choice of thinly applied translucent colours required that they be used on gold. A very similar watch was sold by Antiquorum in Hong Kong on 25 May 1992, lot 217.