93rd Auction
2016/5/14
Lot 85
Signed Peter Heele, Nürnberg (Nuremberg), 45 x 36 x 30 mm, 72 g, circa 1850
An exquisite and important octagonal neo-Gothic gold enamel 16th century style pendant watch in rock crystal case
Case: gold/rock crystal/Champlevé enamel. Dial: gold with polychrome translucent Champlevé enamel inlays. Movm.: octagonal-shaped full plate movement, chain/fusee, verge escapement, three-arm iron balance.
This type of watch was produced in the late 19th century and usually bought by collectors of neo-Gothic souvenirs. The movement uses 18th century parts and the watch belongs to one of several such series produced in Germany; presumably the manufacturer was the company "Kerks und Schwartz" in Munich.
To the best of our knowledge only three of this type of neo-Gothic gold enamel pendant watches in rock crystal cases exist that are signed by Peter Henlein, or Peter Heeles as he is called sometimes. One example is mentioned in the Antiquorum exhibition catalogue "Treasures of the Kremlin: Masterpieces of Horology" of 1994. An octagonal pocket watch in a smoky topaz case dates from around 1890; it is signed "Peter Heel, Nürnberg" and listed in Jürgen Abeler’s "Meister der Uhrmacherkunst" (masters of horology), 2. Edition, Wuppertal 2010, p. 227. That watch was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York in 1997.
An exquisite and important octagonal neo-Gothic gold enamel 16th century style pendant watch in rock crystal case
Case: gold/rock crystal/Champlevé enamel. Dial: gold with polychrome translucent Champlevé enamel inlays. Movm.: octagonal-shaped full plate movement, chain/fusee, verge escapement, three-arm iron balance.
This type of watch was produced in the late 19th century and usually bought by collectors of neo-Gothic souvenirs. The movement uses 18th century parts and the watch belongs to one of several such series produced in Germany; presumably the manufacturer was the company "Kerks und Schwartz" in Munich.
To the best of our knowledge only three of this type of neo-Gothic gold enamel pendant watches in rock crystal cases exist that are signed by Peter Henlein, or Peter Heeles as he is called sometimes. One example is mentioned in the Antiquorum exhibition catalogue "Treasures of the Kremlin: Masterpieces of Horology" of 1994. An octagonal pocket watch in a smoky topaz case dates from around 1890; it is signed "Peter Heel, Nürnberg" and listed in Jürgen Abeler’s "Meister der Uhrmacherkunst" (masters of horology), 2. Edition, Wuppertal 2010, p. 227. That watch was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York in 1997.
Sold
estimated
29.000—35.000 €
Price realized
31.000 €