Lot 209

César Servel à Genève, 62 mm, 216 g, circa 1675
A single-handed verge clock watch with alarm and hour self strike
Case: outer protective case - silver, polished, à goutte, large outer hinge. Inner case - silver, delicate open work and engraved foliate decor, engraved bezel with floral and geometrical ornamentation, rear bell. Dial: silver, outer silver hour ring with inlaid radial Roman numerals and blued single steel hand; inner brass alarm ring with inlaid Arabic numerals and blued single steel hand, central open work brass foliate decor. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, firegilt, signed, barrel with floral engraving and open work decor, pierced movement pillars, hammers, three-arm steel balance, florally engraved and pierced balance bridge.
There is a watch by Estienne Hubert à Roüen (à Rouen) with a strikingly similar case, which we have sold during our 86th auction (lot 243); it dates back to approximately 1680 and one might think that these cases were created by the same maker - they are all covered with the same mesh of flowers, stems and leaves of tulips, lilies and strawberries in the naturalistic style of Gilles Légaré. The finishing technique strongly suggests that the cases were, if not created by the same craftsman, at least produced in the same workshop.