Antiquorum Auctioneers since 1974

Geneva, May 10, 2026

LOT 286

NIKOLAUS SCHMIDT THE ELDER, GERMANY, AUGSBURG RENAISSANCE WATCH WITH FOLIOT AND STACKFREED

CHF 8,000 - 14,000

HKD 80,000 - 140,000 / USD 10,200 - 17,800 / EUR 8,700 - 15,200 / JPY 1,620,000 - 2,830,000

Sold: CHF 15,000

A very fine, rare and early, brass copper, manual wind open-face, key-winding Renaissance watch. Elongated octagonal case, the front engraved with a repeated pattern, the hinged back cover entirely pierced and finely chased. The lid fitted with a later-added bell. Silver dial with Roman numerals and an engraved view of a town, single iron hand. Octagonal brass movement signed with the initials “NS” within a shield for Nikolaus Schmidt the Elder; verge escapement with steel foliot and C-shaped stackfreed.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-11

Good

Slightly worn
Movement: 3-6-8*

Good

Slightly oxidized

Slightly scratched

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-6-8-01

Good

Slightly oxidized

Slightly scratched

HANDS Original

Brand Nikolaus Schmidt the elder, Germany

Year Circa 1600

Caliber 72 mm. X 60 mm., gilt brass full plate with turned baluster pillars, C-shaped stackfreed and fixed barrel, verge escapement, iron foliot. Striking train driven by a fixed barrel, gilt brass plate, iron count wheel on the back plate, later bell mounted on the lid. Signed with the initials “NS” within a shield for Nikolaus Schmidt the Elder.

Diameter 82 mm. X 68 mm.

Signature Movement

Notes

Nikolaus Schmidt the Elder was born in 1549 in Wiltz, Luxembourg, and established his own workshop in Augsburg in 1576. There is no record of his death; however, it is believed that he died sometime between 1625 and 1629. His son, Nikolaus Schmidt the Younger, was also a renowned watchmaker.

Several of Schmidt’s timepieces are preserved today in major museum collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Historisches Museum Basel.

Nikolaus Schmidt the Elder is recorded in Meister der Uhrmacherkunst by Jürgen Abeler, 2nd edition, Wuppertal, 2010, p. 503.