Lot 274

I. Ballard à Bourges, 67 x 45 mm, 133 g, circa 1620
An early and rare, one-handed oval French pendant watch
Case: brass, firegilt, silver. Dial: silver, champlevé. Movm.: oval full plate movement, gut/fusee, verge escapement, applied click work, plain two-arm iron balance without balance spring.
The oval, firegilt brass case has two hinged lids; inside, the back cover has a sundial and a compass. The back of the case itself is decorated with applied silver leaves and flowers, the silver Champlevé dials is equally lavishly ornamented with birds, cornucopia and garlands. The motifs still stand out from the darker ground even after nearly 400 years - a beautiful pendant watch with a lively history - as attested by the heavy wear and tear, the corrosion and the repairs carried out, but has lost none of its authentic French charm.
Both Tardy and Brian Loomes mention watchmaker I. Ballard as having worked in Bourges around 1600.
Another Ballard pendant watch is kept at the Louvre in Paris.