Lot 83

Anton Daniel Meißner à Braunau, Case No. 1829, 54 mm, 94 g, circa 1829
An Austrian pocket watch with a rare drum escapement and mock pendulum
Case: 13k pink gold. Dial: eccentric enamel dial, applied mythological figures chased in two-colour gold on a blued steel back, aperture for mock pendulum. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind.
According to Wolf Brüggemann's encyclopedia of escapements volume I, page 525ff, this type of escapement was only rarely used in pocket watches.
The two flanking figures - Mercury on the left, Dionysus on the right - on the dial lend it the appearance of a "Jacquemart" watch. Between the two gods are stacks of produce that speak of affluence. Mercury is the god of commerce and thieves and is shown as messenger of the gods with a winged hat, winged shoes and a bag of money; he carries the caduceus. Dionysus on the opposite site is the god of wine and euphoria; he sits plump and cheerful on a barrel of wind and gestures wildly - a charming allegory of wealth and pleasure.
Provenance: Landrock Collection

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