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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Watch with an Oriental Scene

Partially verified

This horological object, held by the Rijksmuseum under the inventory number BK-NM-12858, is a watch dating to approximately 1755. It is categorized within the museum's collection as jewellery and a watch, featuring a circular construction made from gold metal and adorned with enamel work. The dial is executed in white enamel, while the case back features polychrome enamel decoration depicting a sultan. Measuring 4.2 cm in diameter, the piece is officially titled in the museum records as "Horloge met oriëntaalse scène." The record states that there are no inscriptions or legends present on the object.

Front view of the gold watch showing the white enamelled dial and floral bezel decoration.
Front view of the gold watch showing the white enamelled dial and floral bezel decoration. — Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
BK-NM-12858
Source-reported date
c. 1755
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

Construction and Aesthetic Design

The object is constructed from gold metal, which serves as the base for extensive enamel work. The primary dial is finished in white enamel, displaying Roman numeral hour markers for timekeeping. The perimeter of the watch case shows a refined application of polychrome enamel, specifically featuring floral designs that transition across the circumference of the bezel.

The case back provides the titular "Oriental" decorative theme, identified in the museum records as a depiction of a sultan. This is achieved through the use of polychrome enamel, a technique that allows for the creation of the detailed figural scene. The overall diameter of the housing is 4.2 cm, maintaining a compact size consistent with mid-18th-century personal timepieces.

Evidence for this section
  • “The recorded material of the watch is gold metal, finished with enamel work.”
  • “The case back is decorated in polychrome enamel and displays a depiction of a sultan.”
  • “It measures 4.2 cm in diameter.”

Documentation and Museum Context

This watch is part of the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, identified by the acquisition number BK-NM-12858. The documentation provided confirms that the record for this object is translated from the museum's own Dutch-language catalogue.

Despite its presence in a major institution, the object remains largely anonymous in terms of its history, with no maker identified or specific country of origin attributed in the current museum records. The object is officially classified within the museum as both jewellery and a watch, reflecting its dual function as an instrument of time and a decorative personal ornament.

Evidence for this section
  • “is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam under the museum object number BK-NM-12858.”
  • “Description translated from the museum's Dutch catalogue text”
  • “no maker or place of origin is provided in the record.”

Condition and Inscriptions

According to the provided museum documentation, there are no inscriptions, legends, or maker's marks identified on the piece.

The information available is confined to the physical description provided by the Rijksmuseum. Any further analysis of the mechanical components or internal features is limited, as the source does not detail the movement or escapement design, focusing instead on the external decorative enamel and the general dimensions of the watch.

Evidence for this section
  • “The record contains no noted inscriptions or legends on the piece.”
  • “no maker or place of origin is provided in the record.”

Open research questions

  • What is the mechanical design of the movement contained within the gold case?
  • Does the polychrome enamel work on the reverse correlate with specific identified workshops specializing in 18th-century enamelled watch cases?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Watch with an Oriental Scene
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
Object TitleHorloge met oriëntaalse scène“Horloge met oriëntaalse scène”
MaterialGold metal and enamel“gold metal, finished with enamel work”
Diameter4.2 cm“measures 4.2 cm in diameter”
Datec. 1755“dated to circa 1755”
Museum AccessionBK-NM-12858“museum object number BK-NM-12858”
InscriptionsNone recorded“The record contains no noted inscriptions or legends on the piece.”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with Roman numeral hour markers
  • Ornate, pierced metal hands
  • Polychrome floral pattern on the bezel
  • Enamel decoration featuring a sultan figure on the reverse

Research qualifications

  • Maker is unrecorded
  • Place of origin is unknown

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

Consulted source

Watch with an Oriental Scene

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record bbc76fb51f

Terms in this record

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

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