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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Form watch

Pear-shaped watch

Partially verified

This watch, designated as object BK-15092 in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, is characterized by its distinctive pear-shaped case. Dating to 1807, the exterior of the case is decorated with enamel paintings illustrating 'scènes galantes'. The piece measures 3.1 cm in diameter and has a height of 6.4 cm. It is constructed from enamel, though internal mechanical specifications are not detailed in the available documentation. The museum classification for this object includes both jewellery and wrist watch categories, reflecting its ornamental design. No maker, origin, or specific horological inscriptions have been identified for this specimen.

A pear-shaped watch with enamel 'scènes galantes' exterior, opened to reveal the dial.
A pear-shaped watch with enamel 'scènes galantes' exterior, opened to reveal the dial. — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Form watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-15092
Source-reported date
1807
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

Physical Design and Case

The object is designed in the form of a pear, a variation of the form watch. These decorative scenes cover the surface of the case, contributing to its ornamental nature as classified by the holding institution.

The overall physical dimensions of the piece are 3.1 cm in diameter and 6.4 cm in height. The narrow portion of the pear-shaped case terminates in a stem, which extends outward, while the opposite side of the case opens to reveal the internal dial mechanism.

Evidence for this section
  • “housed in a case formed in the shape of a pear.”
  • “exterior design is decorated with enamel paintings that depict "scènes galantes".”
  • “diameter 3.1 cm x height 6.4 cm”

Dial and Documentation

Despite its status in the Rijksmuseum collection, the object lacks any identifiable inscriptions, maker signatures, or manufacturing marks that would assist in determining its specific origin or artisan.

The Rijksmuseum has classified the object within the categories of both jewellery and wrist watch. The documentation notes that this information is translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text. No further information regarding the mechanical movement or escapement type is provided in the available records.

Evidence for this section
  • “There are no inscriptions, legends, or markings recorded for the object.”

Provenance and Context

The piece is catalogued under the museum object number BK-15092 in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. The entry identifies the object's date as 1807. Research suggests that while the object is documented, many aspects of its technical history remain unverified.

There is no information regarding the specific maker, issuer, or place of manufacture provided by the source. The categorization as a 'wrist watch' remains a point of institutional classification that requires additional contextual verification to determine if it aligns with historical usage or represents a retrospective interpretation of the form.

Evidence for this section
  • “The entry dates the piece to 1807, with no specific technique, maker, issuer, or place of origin provided.”
  • “It is preserved in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, under the museum object number BK-15092.”

Open research questions

  • Is there any historical evidence to support the museum's classification of this object as a 'wrist watch' relative to 1807?
  • Are there any internal markings on the movement that were not captured in the museum's primary entry?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Pear-shaped watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Museum numberBK-15092“museum object number BK-15092”
Date1807“The entry dates the piece to 1807”
MaterialEnamel“The watch has a recorded material of enamel.”
Dimensions3.1 cm diameter, 6.4 cm height“diameter 3.1 cm x height 6.4 cm”
Decorative motifscènes galantes“The exterior design is decorated with enamel paintings that depict "scènes galantes".”
Holding InstitutionRijksmuseum“It is preserved in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam”

Visible details

  • Case shaped in the form of a pear
  • Dial features Roman numerals
  • Lid interior features painted decoration
  • Metal stem extends from the narrow end of the pear

Research qualifications

  • Museum classification as a 'wrist watch' may be a historical or descriptive term rather than an indication of original intent as a wristwatch
  • Lack of known maker or origin complicates formal attribution

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

Consulted source

Watch, 1807

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 817a2e0846

Terms in this record

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

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