Watch with the Meeting and Farewell of Dido and Aeneas

Case and Enamel Decoration

The exterior of this gold pocket watch is decorated with intricate enamel work. The subject matter depicts the classical mythological narrative of the meeting and farewell of Dido and Aeneas. The imagery is executed in polychrome enamel, covering the back of the case and extending onto the case band.

The enamel technique employed displays detailed figurative work, including Cupid and figures representing the protagonists. The construction incorporates a gold base, and the overall design is consistent with decorative practices of the mid-17th century. The case remains in a state suitable for study within the museum collection, showing clear evidence of the enameller's technical execution.

The enamel work is specifically attributed to an anonymous French hand, while the horological components are credited to the Hamburg maker Andreas Zelling.

Provenance and History

The object possesses a documented history of ownership spanning the early 20th century. It was included in the sale of the collection belonging to Baron Von Mecklenburg and Carl Marfels. The auction took place at Hugo Helbing in Frankfurt am Main on 27 November 1929, where it was assigned lot number 86.

Following his ownership, the watch became part of the 'Maurits Elzas Collection'. Upon Elzas's death in 1937, the watch, alongside 106 other pieces, was bequeathed to the Rijksmuseum. This acquisition forms a significant portion of the museum's horological holdings and has been recorded in the museum's inventory under object number BK-15074.

Attribution and Dating

The dating of this piece remains somewhat open, as the museum lists two separate time frames: 1640–1660 and 1740–1760. These dates potentially reflect uncertainty regarding the production of the watch movement versus the later application of the enamel, or a reassessment of the style. The primary horological attribution is to Andreas Zelling of Hamburg.

The museum catalog entries indicate the watch is a combined work of art, involving both a horologist and a separate enameller. While Zelling is the identified maker of the watch, the reliance on an anonymous French source for the decorative enamel adds a layer of complexity to the attribution of the object's components.