P(ierre) Milleret

P(ierre) Milleret, Paris, circa 1625. Very fine and rare, silver and gilt brass, elongated octagonal, pre-balance spring single-hand pendant watch with concealed dial. "Fermée" type, silver front panel centered with an engraved scene of Venus and Cupid, surrounded by eight lobes engraved with trophies, winged Cherub’s heads, the back engraved with Bacchus and Ariadne, also encircled by eight lobes, each cover engraved inside with a floral wreath, gilt brass band chased with a scrolling pattern, gilt pendant, loose ring. Silver ring with champlevé radial Roman numerals and half-hour divisions, center engraved with a village scene, outside the hour ring engraved with scrolling, mask, and fruit basket, two apertures for movement fixing knobs. Blued steel "arrowhead" hand. 39 x 30 mm, turned vase pillars, fusee and gut line, verge escapement, circular steel foliot, irregular pinned cock pierced and engraved with wild strawberries, ratchet wheel mainspring set-up work with pierced and engraved gilt brass click matching the decoration of the cock.Signed on the movement.Dim. 56 x 34 mm. Notes Pierre Milleret Became watchmaker to the Queen in 1621, and died in 1631. Princess Charlotte had a watch made by Milleret which she gave to His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex (from the catalogue of "Very Celebrated and Unique Collection of Chronometers and Watches, the Property of His Royal Highness, The Duke of Sussex" (Christie’s London, July 1843, lot 14)