Lot 313

Joseph Bockh

An astronomical verge pocket watch of museum quality, in a later, unusual case in the shape of a celestial sphere made of silver with pink gold constellation appliqués - with contemporary, leather-covered transport case in the shape of a horseshoe with gold embossing and velvet lining

Even though the silver case in the form of a celestial sphere was only created in the late 19th century, it lives up magnificently to the purpose of the watch, which is to provide an image of celestial events. In addition to the astronomical displays on the dial, the silver sphere is ornamented with many pink gold representations of the constellations with their names added in exquisite Repoussé work. The case band is decorated with pink gold zodiac signs, the removable bezel features engraved crescents and images of the full moon as well as embossed pink gold stars and small suns.
The case is signed by Cochin on the central golden crescent moon on the hinged lid, in reference to the masterful repoussé artist, Daniel Cochin, who came from Geneva and worked as a medallist, engraver and maker of repoussé watch cases between 1732 and 1768.
He was regarded one of the best craftsmen in the field of Repoussé work. His elaborate pieces stood out because they usually featured a large number of different images.
Provenance:
- Christie's Geneva, April 26, 1976, lot 171
- Time Museum, Rockford, Illinois, inventory-no. 1250
- Sotheby's New York, Masterpieces from the Time Museum Part II, June 19, 2002, lot 57
- Sotheby's Geneva, Masterworks Of Time: Adolf Lange, The Golden Era Of Glashütte, November 11, 2019, lot 71

Joseph Bockh (also Pockh, Pökh. Pokh, Böckh. Pok), a watchmaker working in Linz, was born around 1663. He died on 14 November 1721 at the age of only 58 years.