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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pair cased pocket watch

Venus et Adonis Enamel Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This horological object comprises a gold, copper, and enamel pocket watch featuring a double-body, bassine-form case enamelled in Augsburg circa 1690. The case back displays a scene of Venus and Adonis, while the band is decorated with landscape vignettes and fruit compositions. The pendant and bow are later additions. The movement includes Egyptian pillars, a fusee with chain, and a verge escapement with a plain brass three-arm balance and flat balance spring, complemented by a pierced and engraved gilt brass English balance cock. The dial is a later custom-made white enamel display with Roman numerals, paired with gold Louis XV hands. The interior of the case back features turquoise blue enamel. The total diameter of the watch is 38 mm.

Exterior view of the Venus and Adonis enamel case back.
Exterior view of the Venus and Adonis enamel case back. — Antiquorum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
catalog.antiquorum.swiss
Category
Pocket watch · Pair cased pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Henry Stockard
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
364
Source-reported date
Case circa 1690, movement circa 1730
Source-reported place
Case: Augsburg, Movement: England

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 Enamel Work

The watch features a double-body, bassine-form case constructed from gold, copper, and enamel. The back is decorated with an enamel painting depicting the mythological scene of Venus and Adonis. The band of the case incorporates a series of landscape vignettes interspersed with panels featuring fruit compositions.

The case includes a gold split bezel decorated with palm leaves. The interior of the case back is finished with a turquoise blue enamel. According to the auction description, the pendant and bow are later replacements added to the case, which originates from Augsburg around 1690.

Evidence for this section
  • “Double-body, bassine form, gold split bezel with palm leaf decoration, later pendant and bow the back enamelled with a scene depicting Venus and Adonis”
  • “interior turquoise blue enamel enamel backing.”
  • “Case enamelled in Augsburg, circa 1690”

Movement and Dial

The movement is a hinged gilt brass full plate mechanism. It features Egyptian-style pillars, a fusee with a chain, and a verge escapement. The regulation is provided by a plain brass three-arm balance with a flat balance spring, and the assembly includes a gilt brass balance cock that is pierced and engraved. The movement is signed on the back plate and is attributed to Henry Stockard, circa 1730.

The watch is fitted with a later custom-made white enamel dial featuring Roman numerals and gold Louis XV hands. The auction description notes that both the movement and the dial were custom-made later to fit the case.

Evidence for this section
  • “Later custom made hinged gilt brass full plate with Egyptian pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement”
  • “gilt brass pierced and engraved English balance cock.”
  • “Later custom made, white enamel with Roman numerals.”

Condition and Attribution

The auction description reports that the object combines components from different periods, specifically identifying the case enamelled in Augsburg around 1690 and a movement by Henry Stockard dating to approximately 1730. The later, custom-made nature of the movement, dial, pendant, and bow is explicitly noted.

The auction house assigns the watch an overall grading of AA, indicating a very good state of preservation. Individual component grades for the case, movement, and dial are provided in the source documentation to reflect their recorded condition.

Evidence for this section
  • “Case enamelled in Augsburg, circa 1690, movement by Henry Stockard, circa 1730.”
  • “Later custom made, white enamel with Roman numerals.”
  • “Grading System Grade: AA Very good”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific archival evidence identifying Henry Stockard as the maker of the movement?
  • At what point were the later components integrated into the 1690 Augsburg case?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Venus et Adonis Enamel Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Case originAugsburg“Case enamelled in Augsburg, circa 1690”
MakerHenry Stockard“movement by Henry Stockard, circa 1730”
Diameter38 mm“Diam. 38 mm.”
Case styleBassine“Double-body, bassine form”
Dial descriptionWhite enamel with Roman numerals“white enamel with Roman numerals”
Movement signatureSigned on the back plate“Signed on the back plate.”
Escapement typeVerge“verge escapement”

Visible details

  • Case back features an enamelled scene of Venus and Adonis
  • Band decorated with landscape and fruit motifs
  • Interior of the watch back enamelled in turquoise blue
  • Later white enamel dial with Roman numerals

Research qualifications

  • The pendant and bow are reported as later additions
  • The movement and dial are reported as later custom-made components

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

Consulted source

Case enamelled in Augsburg, circa 1690, movement by Henry Stockard, circa 1730.Venus et AdonisFine gold, copper and enamel watch.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record 4b38e65fa0

Terms in this record

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

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