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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · France

The case is polished silver

Verified

The painted enamel decoration on the main dial is of neoclassical design. Two sub-dials - one decimal, the other duodecimal - are fitted into a multicoloured marble pedestal. A pyramid at the centre separates the two Republican and Gregorian calendar dials. There are two painted medallions on the base, one of a person holding a stick, the other of a Phrygian cap.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH I-465
Object type
Pocket watch
Place of production
France
Dating
1793 - 1795
Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
argent, émail, laiton
Dimensions (catalogue)
Dimensions: 80.0 x 57.5 x 22.3 mm
Inscriptions (catalogue)
NS (Fond du boîtier); arbre (Fond du boîtier); N° 3724 (Fond du boîtier)

Historical significance

  • The painted enamel decoration on the main dial is of neoclassical design. Two sub-dials - one decimal, the other duodecimal - are fitted into a multicoloured marble pedestal. A pyramid at the centre separates the two Republican and Gregorian calendar dials. There are two painted medallions on the base, one of a person holding a stick, the other of a Phrygian cap.
  • The gilded brass movement has a fusee with chain and a verge escapement. The motion work is characteristic of watches with decimal hours: the cannon pinion, which carries the duodecimal minute hand, is placed on the axis of the decentralised, first train wheel. The decimal hours and minutes are indicated by means of a second motion-work, based on a ratio of 1 to 10.

Photographs

The case is polished silver (MIH I-465)
The case is polished silver (MIH I-465) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
The case is polished silver (MIH I-465)
The case is polished silver (MIH I-465) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
The case is polished silver (MIH I-465)
The case is polished silver (MIH I-465) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record

Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.

Sources & references

  1. Musée international d'horlogerie, online collection record, inv. I-465: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/39421/

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.