Attributed to Mikhail Semyonovitch Bronnikov

Attributed to Mikhail Semyonovitch Bronnikov, circa 1865. Very rare and fine watch entirely made of birch wood and bone, in a wooden case, accompanied by its original long carved wood chain and key. Double-body, hinged back cover, polished, bezels with turned ribs at the edges, small circles in the center.Chain: single, carved from birch wood, 6 mm ring-links. Wooden with Arabic numerals on bone cartouchesand subsidiary seconds. Bone hands. Entirely made of wood with pinned wooden bridges, excluding the main-spring,balance-spring and pivots, with going barrel, cylinder escapement with bone staff, plain wood three-armbalance, bone regulator.Diam. 45 mm. Notes Bronnikov's inventive design features a movement which is an integral part of the case, the dial which serves as the pillar plate and the bridges and cock supported by brackets milled in the back part of the band. The same idea was later employed by the celebrated Albert Potter. A family living in Vjatka, Russia, which specialized in the making of all-wood, and all-ivory watches. The first recorded member of the family was Ivan Bronnikov (c. 1770 - 1860), a skillful joiner and turner. Upon the occasion of an exhibition in 1837, the Vjatka Industrial Town Council asked Ivan to exhibit some objects of his making. He refused, saying he was too old, but that his son, Semyon Ivanovitch (1800 - 1875) would contribute "some small thing". This turned out to be a pocket watch enirely carved out of wood which greatly impre Read more…