32,200 CHF
The Tulip. Simon Hackett, Londini, circa 1640. Very fine and very rare silver pre-balance spring, single-hand pendant form watch designed as a tulip, in original fitted shagreen box. Two-body, cast, chiseled with three petals, one of which forms the front cover, tulip pendant, loose ring. Silver, hinged, oval, radial Roman hour chapter. Single blued steel "tulip" hand. gilt brass, oval, 23 x 27 mm, full plate, fusee and gut-line, short four-wheel train with five-leaf pinions, pre-balance spring verge escapement with circular steel foliot, small elongated and irregular gilt pinned cock, pierced and engraved with asymmetrical flower and foliate decoration, ratchet wheel set-up.Signed on the movement.Dim. 42 x 25 mm. Notes The case is identical to the one in the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in Guildhall, London, which houses a movement by William Clay. Cases representing subjects which were particularly in vogue were often purchased by the major watchmakers, who made their own movements especially to fit them.The shape of the watch is typical of the period. Evans, in his "History of Jewelry", as quoted by Dr. Hans Boeckh, states: "Gesner saw the first tulip in flower in Augsburg in 1559 and published the first picture of it in 1561. It took 75 years for the flower to conquer Europe". In 1593, botanist Carolus Clusius brought tulips from Constantinople to the University of Leyden, using them only for medicinal research. One day bulbs were stolen from his garden; Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2003-11-16
