A GERMAN RENAISSANCE LARGE VERGE FUSEE HOUR STRIKING PRE-HAIRSPRING CLOCK-WATCH OR ‘COACH WATCH’

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 CENTURYThe 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. Condition Report: The movement is essentially complete and survives in its original configuration albeit it with 'service' replacements to the trains and will run/beat when wound. The going train retains original flanged barrel, fusee and chain; the second, contrate and escape wheels have been re-pinioned and the escape wheel is a replacement. The contrate appears to have hand-cut teeth so are probably original. The escape wheel pivot potance has been repaired (contrate end). The strike train is also operational however will require adjustment/setting-up/synchronising. All wheels above the second wheel have been re-pinioned and the locking wheel is probably a replacement; the fly is definitely non-original. The countwheel detent has been repaired, the countwheel itself appears original. The backplate exhibits some pivot-closing marks and re-bushing to the fusee pivot as well as other re-bushing to pivots further down the train. The flat rim balance has significant age so could be original; the balance spring is a later addition and a regulation arm has been fitted annotated by 'dot' engraving 'L' and 'R' to the backplate. The balance cock is original but is now fitted with a pin to anchor the hairspring near the tip. The fusee spring set-up ratchet and pawl are probably replacements; the original sculpted steel locking spring is present but appears incomplete. Adjacent to the strike train winding square are two holes most likely from stopwork which is no longer present. Overall the mechanism is dirty/tarnished by does retain traces of original gilding. As catalogued the dial has been replaced. The hand is also later. The our wheel is hand-cut and has age so may be original. We believe the case and dial plate/ring to be original and are both in good original condition with no losses. The dial plate has three additional holes drilled for fitting a dial and the case has some slight shallow denting, the finish has been polished in the past hence gilding has been rubbed-off and the surface is now a tarnished/discoloured. The bell applied to the interior of the case appears original, is free from cracks and rings well. There is no winding key present. Condition Report Disclaimer