Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

Geneva, Mar 29, 2009

LOT 326

Early English Provincial Watch Ri(chard). Barnes at Worcester. Made circa 1610. Fine and extremely rare, gilt brass and silver, pre-balance spring, single-handed oval pendant watch.

C. Two-body, oval, the silver band engraved with inhabited scrolling foliage, lower turned finial, pierced trefoil pendant with loose ring, fixed back with engraved foliate border and shuttered winding hole, hinged gilt brass cover over the dial with engraved flower and foliate border, the center with the Tudor rose, the interior engraved with a wreath. D. Circular silver, the chapter ring with radial Roman hour numerals and raised dot markers, fleur-de-lys half-hour divisions, the center engraved with scrolling inhabited flowering foliage, gilt brass mask hinged to the case, the border engraved with inhabited foliage and a winged cherub mask. Steel tulip hand. M. 43 x 34 mm., oval gilt brass, engraved border decorated with inhabited foliage, turned vase pillars, fusee for gut-line, short four-wheel train with five-leaf pinions, verge escapement, brass foliot with ringed rim, elongated cock with small foot, pierced and engraved with flowering foliage, secured by a pin, worm and wheel mainspring set-up replacing an earlier rachet wheel and click setup. Movement signed. Dim. 49 x 38 mm. Excluding finial and pendant.