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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pendant watch · Genève

Oval watch intended for the Turkish market, to be worn as a pendant (sautoir)

Verified

The silver egg-shaped case is entirely decorated with niello, while the back and cover are decorated with a rosette of flower shapes. The winding aperture on the back is masked by a movable disk, also in niello-work silver.

Technical facts

Inventory number
MIH I-555
Object type
Pendant watch
Place of production
Genève
Dating
1650 - 1670
Materials and techniques (catalogue wording)
Argent, Niel, Laiton
Dimensions (catalogue)
dimensions min/max: 46 x 50 mm; ép.: 21.40 mm
Inscriptions (catalogue)
amili arlu (persan) (Platine)

Historical significance

  • The silver egg-shaped case is entirely decorated with niello, while the back and cover are decorated with a rosette of flower shapes. The winding aperture on the back is masked by a movable disk, also in niello-work silver.
  • A gilded brass hand indicates the hours, which are engraved in Turkish numerals on a silver chapter ring. The gilded brass false plate is covered with oxidised silver leaf, engraved then gilded, repeating the decorative motifs of the case.
  • The movement has a fusee with gut cord and four pierced pillars in engraved and gilded brass. The initial tension of the mainspring can be set up by means of a hand on a small dial with twelve Turkish numerals. The single-footed triangular balance cock is engraved and pierced with scrolls. It covers a balance without balance spring, whose upper surface is ornamented with a moulding.
  • The upper plate bears a signature in Persian: amili arlu (made by Arlu).

Photographs

Oval watch intended for the Turkish market, to be worn as a pendant (sautoir) (MIH I-555)
Oval watch intended for the Turkish market, to be worn as a pendant (sautoir) (MIH I-555) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Oval watch intended for the Turkish market, to be worn as a pendant (sautoir) (MIH I-555)
Oval watch intended for the Turkish market, to be worn as a pendant (sautoir) (MIH I-555) — Musée international d'horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Museum collection photograph, rights review pending. MIH collection record
Oval watch intended for the Turkish market, to be worn as a pendant (sautoir) (MIH I-555)
Oval watch intended for the Turkish market, to be worn as a pendant (sautoir) (MIH I-555) — 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-555: https://collection.mih.ch/fr/collection/item/37609/

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