Johann Sayller

Johann Sayller, Ulm, German, circa 1630. Fine and exceptionally rare eight-day going silver Puritan style watch with astronomical work and calendar. Two part, plain heavy silver back and cover. Turned loose ring pendant. Oval giIt brass dial plate, applied silver chapter ring with Roman hour chapters, hait hour divisions and touch studs, concentric date scale with Z used in place of conventional 2, centred by moon phase aperture with gilt brass lunar calendar ring, the silvered moon disc with hand setting holes and engraved with an aspectarium. Single counterpoised blued-steel tulip pattern hand and date pointer. Aperture above 12 for month and below 6 for week-day in German. Notes Johann Sa9ller is recorded as born in 1597 and master in 1646 and died in 1668. He was an extraordinary maker who specialised in long duration watches and clocks. A spring driven table clock going for three months is still in existence and this watch runs for a full period of eight days with sufficient power to drive the astronomical trains. It can be noted that not only is the calendar driven but also the week day and most peculiarly the month, which in the majority of watches of this period would be manually advanced. Another peculiarity of his work to be seen on various coach watches is the extremely solid and robust case work. Ulm is situated some 60km from Stuttgart in the southern part of Germany.