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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Watch with repoussé depiction of the flight from Troy

Partially verified

This gold-cased watch, currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (accession number BK-VBR-352), features a repoussé scene depicting the flight from Troy on its case. Dated to 1766, the timepiece is recorded as having a diameter of 4 cm, with overall dimensions reported by the institution as 6 cm in height, 4.7 cm in width, and 2.8 cm in depth. The watch face utilizes a classic analog display, showing signs of damage to the dial. While the museum record categorizes it under jewellery, it functions as a portable timekeeper. The repoussé work on the exterior case is the primary decorative element of the object. The item is officially catalogued under its original Dutch title, 'Horloge met gedreven voorstelling van de vlucht uit Troje', and serves as a formal museum record of a mid-eighteenth-century horological artifact.

Front view of the watch featuring the dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, showing the broken dial sections.
Front view of the watch featuring the dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, showing the broken dial sections. — 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-VBR-352
Source-reported date
1766
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 Construction and Material

It features a rounded case that serves as the primary housing for the internal movement and dial mechanism. The physical dimensions recorded for the object provide a comprehensive profile, with the watch body measuring 4 cm in diameter, while the cumulative external dimensions of the housing are 6 cm in height, 4.7 cm in width, and 2.8 cm in depth.

The exterior of the case is decorated with a repoussé technique, which creates relief designs through hammering the metal from the reverse side. The specific subject of this ornamentation is identified as the flight from Troy, a classical narrative scene integrated into the golden casing of the watch.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watch of gold. On the case a repoussé depiction of the flight from Troy.”
  • “hoogte 6 cm x breedte 4,7 cm x diepte 2,8 cm”

Museum Cataloguing and Identification

The watch is officially registered and housed within the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, under the accession number BK-VBR-352. It is formally titled 'Horloge met gedreven voorstelling van de vlucht uit Troje', which translates to the 'Watch with repoussé depiction of the flight from Troy'.

The record for this object is maintained as a formal museum entry, supporting its provenance and status as a historical artifact. The documentation provided by the Rijksmuseum indicates that the details regarding its period of manufacture—attributed to 1766—are tied to the museum's institutional record. This archival classification provides a primary point of reference for the object's identity and historical context within the museum's decorative arts collection.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-VBR-352”
  • “Classification: wrist watch; jewellery.”
  • “Period 1766”

Condition and Appearance

Visual examination of the watch confirms the presence of a white dial featuring a combination of Roman numeral hour indicators and Arabic numerals for the five-minute markers. The dial itself appears to have suffered structural damage, as evidenced by clear fractures resulting in distinct loose shards. The watch remains attached to a gold-finished pendant loop, which suggests its historical use as a piece suspended from a chain or chatelaine rather than worn directly on the wrist as modern conventions might imply.

The surface of the case maintains a decorative aesthetic consistent with the repoussé work mentioned in the institutional metadata. While the object is documented as a single museum piece, the state of the dial indicates the necessity for careful handling and conservation. The current documentation does not provide further information regarding the integrity of the internal movement or the operational capacity of the timepiece, focusing instead on the external decorative elements and the historical association of the item.

Evidence for this section
  • “On the case a repoussé depiction of the flight from Troy.”
  • “diameter 4 cm”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific maker or workshop responsible for the gold case and movement?
  • Does the object retain its original 18th-century movement, or is it a marriage of different components?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Watch with repoussé depiction of the flight from Troy
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MaterialGold“Watch of gold.”
Date1766“Period 1766”
Museum Accession NumberBK-VBR-352“The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, holds this object as BK-VBR-352”
Museum ClassificationWrist watch and jewellery“Classification: wrist watch; jewellery.”
Case Diameter4 cm“diameter 4 cm”
Overall Dimensions6 cm x 4.7 cm x 2.8 cm“hoogte 6 cm x breedte 4,7 cm x diepte 2,8 cm”

Visible details

  • The watch dial is fractured with two separate shards shown in the photograph.
  • The case exhibits a decorative repoussé finish on its outer surface.
  • The watch includes a loop for a chain or fob attached to the top of the case.
  • The dial uses Roman numerals for the hour markers and Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals.

Research qualifications

  • The exact maker of the movement and case remains unverified by the current source.
  • The attribution of the date 1766 is provided by the museum record but requires further verification against independent horological references.

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

Consulted source

Watch with repoussé depiction of the flight from Troy

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 9ed0c23f86

Terms in this record

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

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