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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Octagonal watch

Johan Georg Reinhold watch

Partially verified

This horological object is an octagonal pocket watch attributed to the maker Johan Georg Reinhold, a German clockmaker active in Strasbourg. The watch is recorded by The Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 17.190.1604. It dates to approximately 1643, the year Reinhold is noted to have become a master. The construction of the piece utilizes a combination of rock crystal, gilt metal, and silver. The object measures 3 inches by 1 7/8 inches (approximately 7.6 cm by 4.8 cm). The movement is signed with the maker's name on the plate beneath an elaborate balance cock.

Frontal view of the octagonal watch showing the open hinged cover and engraved dial.
Frontal view of the octagonal watch showing the open hinged cover and engraved dial. — The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Octagonal watch
Maker / attribution
Johan Georg Reinhold
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1604
Source-reported date
ca. 1643
Source-reported place
Germany, Strasbourg

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 and Dial Construction

The watch features an octagonal case design, a form observed in pieces from this period. The exterior is constructed from gilt metal and silver, providing a contrast to the transparent material used for the protective cover. The cover, hinged at the top, allows access to the internal dial and is fashioned from rock crystal.

The dial itself is intricately engraved with a scene depicting a landscape populated by figures. The hours are marked by a chapter ring with Roman numerals, set against the detailed metalwork of the dial plate.

Evidence for this section
  • “Rock crystal, gilt metal, silver”

Movement and Signature

The movement is housed within the octagonal case and is secured by a series of pillars. This component is situated centrally, positioned above the main plate.

The movement plate bears a signature, which serves to identify the maker as Johan Georg Reinhold. The engraving of the name is located clearly on the plate, near the balance cock assembly, establishing a direct link to the craftsman's activity in Strasbourg during the mid-17th century.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watch made by Johan Georg Reinhold”

Provenance and Documentation

The object is held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, having been acquired through a gift from J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917. It is classified under the department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts. The museum maintains detailed records of the watch, including its materials and physical dimensions.

As a catalogued museum piece, the watch serves as a reference point for the study of German horology circa 1643. While its physical specifications are documented by the institution, ongoing research is encouraged to verify the broader context of the maker's work and the place of this piece within his wider portfolio.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1604”
  • “Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”

Open research questions

  • Are there other existing timepieces signed by Johan Georg Reinhold that share this specific octagonal geometry?
  • To what extent did the Strasbourg guild regulations of 1643 influence the stylistic choices present in this movement?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Johan Georg Reinhold watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerJohan Georg Reinhold“Watch made by Johan Georg Reinhold”
Dateca. 1643“dated ca. 1643”
Place of OriginStrasbourg, Germany“German, Strasbourg”
Museum Accession Number17.190.1604“17.190.1604”
MaterialsRock crystal, gilt metal, silver“Rock crystal, gilt metal, silver”
Dimensions3 × 1 7/8 in. (7.6 × 4.8 cm)“3 × 1 7/8 in. (7.6 × 4.8 cm)”
Maker StatusActive ca. 1640, master 1643“active ca. 1640, master 1643”

Visible details

  • Octagonal case with a hinged rock crystal or glass cover
  • Engraved dial surface featuring a landscape and human figures
  • Signature inscribed on the movement plate reading 'Johan Georg Reinbold'
  • Ornate pierced balance cock visible on the movement

Research qualifications

  • The exact composition of the crystal cover is identified as rock crystal but requires further material analysis for verification
  • The attribution to Strasbourg relies on the maker's recorded activity in that region around 1643

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

Consulted source

Watch by Johan Georg Reinhold, German, Strasbourg, ca. 1643

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record cc438e7641

Terms in this record

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

Other octagonal watch records