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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pair-case verge watch

Watch with a Lady and a Monk

Partially verified

This gentleman's pocket watch, held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, is identified by the accession number BK-15039. The timepiece is documented as a gold, pair-case watch featuring a verge escapement mechanism. The outer case of the watch is decorated with an enamel painting which illustrates a monk holding a drinking bowl alongside a woman. The internal horological components are housed within a gold casing measuring 4.5 cm in diameter, while the external pair case has a diameter of 5.1 cm. As a museum-registered item, its technical specifications are based on the Rijksmuseum's inventory records. The object represents a category of personal timekeeping device produced between circa 1775 and 1800, though independent validation of its broader historical context and maker remains a subject for further horological research.

Front view of the gold pair-case watch showing the dial and movement cover
Front view of the gold pair-case watch showing the dial and movement cover — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pair-case verge watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-15039
Source-reported date
c. 1775 - c. 1800
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 Construction and Exterior

The object is a gentleman’s pocket watch configured as a pair-case construction. The primary watch casing measures 4.5 cm in diameter, while the protective outer case is slightly larger at 5.1 cm. Both components are manufactured from gold.

The exterior of the outer case features an enamel painting. This decorative element specifically depicts a scene containing a monk shown with a drinking bowl, accompanied by a woman. The overall assembly follows the structure of a standard pair-case timepiece of the late 18th century.

Evidence for this section
  • “On the outer case, an enamel painting depicting a monk with a drinking bowl and a woman.”
  • “horloge: diameter 4,5 cm · kast: diameter 5,1 cm”

Movement and Mechanism

The internal mechanism of this timepiece is described as utilizing a verge escapement.

As the object is a museum-held specimen, the internal components have not been detailed beyond the escapement type. The watch is classified within the Rijksmuseum collection as a pocket watch, adhering to the standard functions of such devices during the estimated production period between 1775 and 1800.

Evidence for this section
  • “with verge escapement”
  • “c. 1775 - c. 1800”

Documentation and Provenance

The watch is currently part of the permanent collection at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It is officially identified and catalogued under the accession number BK-15039. The museum classification for this object is noted as both a wrist watch and jewellery, though the primary function is that of a gentleman's watch.

The information provided is derived from the museum's Dutch catalogue text. As this is a museum-registered item, the source records the material, measurements, and physical description based on their internal inventory protocols. Further investigation would be required to verify the specific maker of the movement or any potential provenance beyond its current institutional holding.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-15039”
  • “Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text”

Open research questions

  • Who is the maker of the verge movement?
  • What is the full provenance of this watch before entering the Rijksmuseum collection?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Watch with a Lady and a Monk
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Object TypeGentleman's watch“Gentleman's watch”
EscapementVerge“verge escapement”
MaterialGold“of gold”
Outer Case DecorationEnamel painting of a monk and woman“an enamel painting depicting a monk with a drinking bowl and a woman”
Object IdentifierBK-15039“BK-15039”
Datingcirca 1775 to 1800“c. 1775 - c. 1800”
Watch Diameter4.5 cm“diameter 4.5 cm”
Pair Case Diameter5.1 cm“kast: diameter 5,1 cm”

Visible details

  • Engraved decoration on the watch bezel
  • Central openwork pattern on the dial
  • Arabic numerals for minutes and Roman numerals for hours
  • Blued steel hands

Research qualifications

  • The exact maker of the timepiece is not confirmed in the source material
  • The dating range provided remains an estimation

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

Consulted source

Watch with a Lady and a Monk

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 57badbe49e

Terms in this record

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