100th Auction

2019/11/15

Lot 9

Jan Jansz. Bockels in de Hage (Jan Janse Bockels, The Hague), 93 x 93 x 50 mm, circa 1620
An important, horizontal single-hand Renaissance table clock with hour strike and alarm; the silver dial is exquisitely engraved with floral motifs that are most likely based on the "Florilegium" by Emanuel Sweerts
Case: firegilt brass case, moulded, two pierced walls with beautifully engraved foliate scrolls, bun feet. Dial: brass, firegilt, engraved Roman hours, central silver alarm disc with engraved flower ornaments, outer ring with twelve touch studs for the hours, single iron hand. Movm.: square brass movement, firegilt, applied floral decorations, 2 x gut/fusee, barrel for alarm, solid baluster movement pillars, iron bell / 2 hammers, verge escapement, locking plate with external teeth, applied blued iron click work, iron balance without balance spring, florally engraved, pierced balance cock.
This beautiful Dutch Renaissance-style table clock is fitted in a serenely minimalist outer case. Only two rectangular sound holes in the outer wall are covered with open-work grilles engraved with foliage. In the centre sits a revolving silver alarm disc exquisitely engraved with a canvas of flowers – daffodils, sunflowers and strawberry petals against a gently shaded background. The floral motifs are most likely based on the "Florilegium" created by Emanuel Sweerts.
Sweerts dealt in bulbs and rare plants and regularly traveled to the fair in Frankfurt with his catalogue to offer flowers and rare plants he grew in his large garden in Amsterdam. He used his catalogue as a guideline for his "Florilegium amplissimum et selectissimum (1612)". Sweerts’ work shows 330 bulbs in the first and 243 flowering plants in the second part. The "Florilegium" is filled with etchings and was very popular with 17th century artists who used it as inspiration for their work. Many still life scenes dating from this time show a growing appreciation and popularity of flowers.
Jan Jansz. Bockels is known to have worked as a watchmaker in Den Haag from 1610 to 1640. Today his watches are held by private collections and a number of museums such as the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the British Museum in London.
Source: G.H. Baillie "Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World", Vol. I, Edinburgh/London, 1947, p. 31

Sold

estimated
12.00025.000 €
Price realized
12.500 €