Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Enamelled Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This horological object is an enamelled pocket watch, held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, under the museum object number BK-NM-636. Dated to the period between circa 1640 and circa 1660, the watch is constructed with a circular case featuring polychrome enamel decoration. The imagery applied to the exterior of the case includes figurative scenes and landscapes; specifically, the top of the case portrays Paris presenting the apple, while the bottom of the case depicts the departure of Dido and Aeneas. The sides of the case are decorated with landscapes. No inscriptions or legends are reported on the object. The maker and place of production remain unidentified in the source material.

Enamelled case of the pocket watch, depicting the scene of Paris presenting the apple.
Enamelled case of the pocket watch, depicting the scene of Paris presenting the apple. — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-NM-636
Source-reported date
c. 1640 - c. 1660
Source-reported place
Not established

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case Design and Decoration

The watch is encased in an enamelled housing with a diameter of 6 cm. The exterior surface is extensively decorated with figurative enamel scenes. The upper section features a detailed illustration of the mythological scene depicting Paris presenting the apple, which forms the primary focal point of the case surface visible in the photograph.

The remaining surfaces of the case continue this decorative theme. The underside of the case is illustrated with a depiction of the departure of Dido and Aeneas, a narrative scene consistent with the mythological aesthetic of the era. The peripheral sides of the case feature continuous landscape imagery that spans the circumference of the object.

Evidence for this section
  • “featuring an enamelled case”
  • “On the top of the case is a depiction of Paris presenting the apple.”
  • “The bottom of the case depicts the departure of Dido and Aeneas, while the sides are decorated with landscapes.”

Museum Provenance and Classification

This object is currently part of the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It is inventoried under the accession number BK-NM-636. The institution provides documentation regarding its material and physical dimensions, though the specific horological mechanisms or internal components are not detailed in the provided source records.

The museum classifies the object as a watch, though it is also formally catalogued under the broader descriptors of jewellery and wrist watch. The record relies on a translation from the institution's Dutch catalogue text, and the source notes that the extent to which this specific object is representative of a wider production type has not been verified.

Evidence for this section
  • “The object is held by the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, where it is identified under the museum object number BK-NM-636.”
  • “Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text”

Historical Attribution

The watch is attributed to a chronological window spanning circa 1640 to circa 1660. The provided records state that there are no inscriptions, legends, or maker marks identified on the object to assist with a more precise chronological or geographical attribution. Consequently, the place of manufacture remains unknown.

Because of the lack of identifiable signatures or maker marks, the catalogue record suggests that further research is required to determine the context of its creation. The current data serves as an identification of the physical specimen currently maintained by the Rijksmuseum.

Evidence for this section
  • “The watch is dated to circa 1640 to circa 1660.”
  • “The catalogue records no maker, issuer, or place of production.”
  • “No inscriptions or legends are recorded for this object.”

Open research questions

  • What is the internal movement configuration and escapement type of this watch?
  • Can the enamelled scenes be attributed to a specific workshop or school of miniature painting active in the mid-17th century?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Enamelled Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Object IDBK-NM-636“BK-NM-636”
Diameter6 cm“diameter 6 cm”
Datingc. 1640 - c. 1660“c. 1640 - c. 1660”
Decoration TopParis presenting the apple“On the top of the case is a depiction of Paris presenting the apple.”
Decoration BottomDeparture of Dido and Aeneas“The bottom of the case depicts the departure of Dido and Aeneas”
InscriptionsNone recorded“No inscriptions or legends are recorded for this object.”

Visible details

  • Circular case with polychrome enamel finish
  • Figurative scene depicting Paris presenting the apple on the lid
  • Pendant loop positioned at the top of the case
  • Landscape motifs featured on the case sides

Research qualifications

  • Museum classification as a 'wrist watch' may be anachronistic for the period
  • The maker and exact place of manufacture are unrecorded

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Watch, c. 1640 - c. 1660

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 74095455f1

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

Other pocket watch records