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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Blois

Enamelled pocket watch

Verified

On the back of the case, the enameller has reproduced The Meeting between Anthony and Cleopatra. Crowned with laurels, the Roman general is kissing the hand of the Queen of Egypt as she disembarks at Tarsus. The scene was taken from a painting by Sébastien Bourdon (1616–1671). The painting on the counter-enamel was taken from an engraving by Garnier of a work by Jacques Blanchard (1600–1638), Charity, which is in the Toledo Museum of Art.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH I-553
Object type
Pocket watch
Place of production
Blois
Dating
1650
Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
or, émail, laiton, argent
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions d'exposition: 70.5 x 61.0 x 24.5 mm; poids: 142.500 g
Inscriptions (catalogue)
Bonbruict A Blois 1650 (Mouvement)

Historical significance

  • On the back of the case, the enameller has reproduced The Meeting between Anthony and Cleopatra. Crowned with laurels, the Roman general is kissing the hand of the Queen of Egypt as she disembarks at Tarsus. The scene was taken from a painting by Sébastien Bourdon (1616–1671). The painting on the counter-enamel was taken from an engraving by Garnier of a work by Jacques Blanchard (1600–1638), Charity, which is in the Toledo Museum of Art.
  • In the center of the dial, is an enamel reproduction of an unidentified painting of the death of Cleopatra, clearly dating from the first half of the 17th century.
  • The movement has a verge escapement, a fusee with gut cord and a worm gear. The silver balance cock is pierced with strawberry flower scrolls. The short spring of the balance was undoubtedly added at a later date.

Photographs

Enamelled pocket watch (MIH I-553)
Enamelled pocket watch (MIH I-553) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Enamelled pocket watch (MIH I-553)
Enamelled pocket watch (MIH I-553) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Enamelled pocket watch (MIH I-553)
Enamelled pocket watch (MIH I-553) — 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-553: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/39738/

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