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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Calendar pocket watch

Hermanus Reijnders Silver Calendar Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This silver calendar pocket watch, attributed to the maker Hermanus Reijnders of Arnhem, dates to approximately 1740. The piece is notable for its elaborate silver construction, including an exterior loose case featuring a repoussé relief depicting two warriors standing before tents, set against a border of chased ornamentation. The internal dial is fashioned from silver and features raised plates on a granulated ground, displaying black inlaid Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minutes. A central aperture on the dial indicates the day of the month. The movement is protected by an interior plate adorned with a richly worked silver bridge, and the signature of Hermanus Reijnders is engraved on both the dial and the movement plate.

Front view of the silver pocket watch, showing the raised numerals, calendar aperture, and ornate hands.
Front view of the silver pocket watch, showing the raised numerals, calendar aperture, and ornate hands. — Rijksmuseum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.rijksmuseum.nl
Category
Pocket watch · Calendar pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Hermanus Reijnders
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-15024
Source-reported date
ca. 1740
Source-reported place
Netherlands

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

Dial and Visual Design

The timepiece is housed in a silver case accompanied by an additional loose silver outer case. This exterior element is decorated with a detailed repoussé relief depicting two figures identified as warriors positioned before tents. The periphery of this outer case is further embellished with chased ornamentation, which includes decorative elements like bust portraits, a dog, and a pelican feeding its young.

The dial is constructed of silver and features raised plates set upon a granulated surface. Time is indicated through black-inlaid Roman numerals for hours and Arabic numerals for minutes. Centrally, the dial displays an ornate rinceau or floral pattern on a blue-toned ground. A small square aperture positioned toward the lower section of the dial serves as the calendar indicator, revealing the date of the month.

Evidence for this section
  • “de zilveren wijzerplaat met zwarte ingelegde Romeinse uur- en Arabische minuut-cijfers op verhoogde plaatjes op gegranuleerde grond.”
  • “De losse kast met gedreven reliëf, voorstellende twee krijgslieden voor tenten”
  • “Door een vierkante opening is de datum der maand zichtbaar.”

Movement and Signatures

The internal mechanism is supported by a plate featuring a silver bridge of elaborate design. The maker, Hermanus Reijnders of Arnhem, ensured his identity was recorded clearly within the watch. His signature appears in two distinct locations: on the dial, where it is engraved as 'H. Reynders Arnhem', and on the movement plate, where it appears in full as 'Hermanus Reynders Arnhem'.

Technical inspection of the components reveals a maker's mark on the base, documented as 'I * R under crown'. The combination of the signature and the decorative work on the silver components aligns with mid-18th-century production standards for Dutch calendar watches.

Evidence for this section
  • “De platine met rijkbewerkte zilveren kloof is gemerkt: Hermanus Reynders Arnhem.”
  • “signatuur, wijzerplaat: ‘H. Reynders Arnhem’”
  • “merk, bodem: ‘I * R onder kroon’”

Provenance and History

The provenance of this pocket watch links it to the Maurits Elzas collection in Arnhem. Historical records suggest the object may have been previously held in the collection of the Van Balveren family, possibly owned by Walraven Elias Johan Baron van Balveren. The piece passed through several hands before being acquired by Maurits Elzas in 1921.

Following the death of Maurits Elzas, this watch, along with 106 other timepieces from his collection, was bequeathed to the museum in 1937. It is now catalogued as part of the public domain, providing a documented transition from private aristocratic or bourgeois holdings to a national institution.

Evidence for this section
  • “Collectie Maurits Elzas, Arnhem”
  • “possibly Walraven Elias Johan Baron van Balveren (1858-1920), Arnhem”
  • “by whom bequeathed with 106 other watches, as part of the 'Maurits Elzas Collection', to the museum, 1937”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific function of the 'I * R under crown' mark, and does it denote a silversmith distinct from the watchmaker?
  • Does the 'blue ground' on the dial indicate an enamel layer or a chemical patination process?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Hermanus Reijnders Silver Calendar Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerHermanus Reijnders“uurwerkmaker: Hermanus Reijnders, Arnhem”
Dateca. 1740“ca. 1740”
MaterialSilver“Zilveren horloge met losse zilveren kast.”
SignedH. Reynders Arnhem“signatuur, wijzerplaat: ‘H. Reynders Arnhem’”
Movement MarkHermanus Reynders Arnhem“signatuur, platine: ‘Hermanus Reynders Arnhem’”
Object IDBK-15024“BK-15024”

Visible details

  • Silver dial with raised chapter rings
  • Outer case with repoussé warrior scene
  • Visible date aperture at the bottom of the dial
  • Openwork central dial decoration with floral motifs

Research qualifications

  • Attribution to maker is based on signature engravings
  • Exact historical ownership chain before 1921 remains partially speculative

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

Consulted source

Pocket watch with repoussé depiction of two warriors before tents in a loose case

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 3297cb06b0

Terms in this record

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

Other calendar pocket watch records