Lot 27

Thomas Wolfgang Arnolt, Hamburg, 34 mm, 34 g, circa 1675
An important one-handed small pre-balance spring German pocket watch in a gold and enamel case
Case: 18k gold, polychrome enamel. Dial: white enamel, radial Roman numerals, iron single hand. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, chain/fusee, ratchet wheel set up with blued steel spring, verge escapement, two-arm steel balance without balance spring.
The case is allover decorated with enamel: the back shows a small winged putto rope skipping with a garland of flowers; the inside of the lid shows a young couple in period garments.
Jürgen Abeler has only very little information on Thomas Wolfgang Arnolt (circa 1640-1704); he gives his marriage date as 1678 and mentions that he died before 1704. Arnolt received the freedom of the city of Hamburg in 1662. He was a very able watchmaker. Few watches by him are known; one similar to the present watch is in the Hamburg Arts and Crafts Museum.
Source: Jürgen Abeler, "Meister der Uhrmacherkunst", 2. Edition, Wuppertal 2010, p. 37-38.