Beschreibung:

A GERMAN RENAISSANCE LARGE VERGE FUSEE HOUR STRIKING PRE-HAIRSPRING CLOCK-WATCH OR 'COACH WATCH' INITIALLED M.Z. POSSIBLY FOR MARTIN ZOLLER, SOUTH GERMANY, SECOND QUARTER OF THE 17th CENTURY The full plate movement with four baluster column pillars pinned through the backplate, the fusee going train with plain stop-iron block and verge escapement regulated by two-arm steel balance now sprung and with regulation slide adjustment to the backplate, the locking plate controlled strike train with standing barrel, foliate engraved and pierced gilt brass detent gate and sounding via a hammer positioned beneath the spring barrel on a bell fitted to the interior of the case, the backplate with asymmetric foliate scroll pierced and engraved balance cock decorated with tulip and other blooms issuing from a sculpted trefoil-shaped foot, set beside a countwheel with rosette engraved centre and numbered divisions, mainspring set-up ratchet and engraved initials M. Z., now with a later simple 4 inch slightly convex brass Arabic numeral dial with stylised cruciform hour markers and simple steel hand, the case hinged at the edge of the dial and secured by a hinged clasp, the interior fitted with a bell and the rear extensively pierced and engraved with scrolling flowering foliage around a central chrysanthemum bloom, the integral walls with twin conforming pierced bands divided by panels decorated with further flowerheads. The pillar plate 9.8cm (3.875ins) diameter; the case 10.8cm (4.25ins) diameter, 5cm (2ins) deep. Martin Zoller is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working in Augsburg 1590-1633. The design and layout of the movement of the current lot is typical of central European examples made during the first half of the 17th century by which time the basic design had become relatively standardised and remained essentially unchanged for the next 100 years or so; the inherent portability of such timepieces no doubt contributed to timepieces of essentially the same format and exhibiting similar decoration being made right across Europe including London. Indeed, a slightly earlier clockwatch by Jacques Bulke, London, (which shares the same basic layout of the present lot) was sold at Sotheby's, London THE GEORGE DANIELS HOROLOGICAL COLLECTION 6th November 2012 (lot 38) for £21,000. This example was the usual smaller size and, being slightly earlier, was contained in a 'tambour' type case with the pierced side walls being vertical and made separately from the convex rear panel. The form of one-piece slightly rounded case, as used for the current lot, was introduced around 1620 and became standard for verge watches throughout their production. The distinctive engraved and pierced scrolling foliate backcock of the current lot can be very closely compared to that used on a vertical table clock movement by Hanns Buschmann, Augsburg, (circa 1620) which was sold at Patrizzi and Company, Milan, sale of PRE-PENDULUM EUROPEAN RENAISSANCE CLOCKS, SINGLE OWNER COLLECTION 24th May 2009 (lot 65). The strong similarity between these two balance cocks would suggest that they were made/finished in the same workshop, most likely a specialist 'finisher' to whom the work was outsourced. The sculpted trefoil-shaped foot to the cock is unusual and harks back to earlier examples with simpler sculpted steel balance cocks. The relatively large size of the current timepiece places it amongst a rare group of travelling timepiece which have been traditionally called 'coach watches'. Being too large to carry about the person such timepieces would have most likely been 'placed' either within lodgings whilst travelling or even onboard a ship. Although the original dial has been lost the rest of the present lot appears to have survived intact and free from significant alteration.