J. Barberet Paris

J. Barberet Paris, circa 1615. Very fine and rare gilt-brass pre-balance spring watch, richly decorated with silver in damascened work. Three body oval with gilt-brass pendant, finials and hinges, with overlaid silver panels entirely engraved. The cover with a scene featuring Venus and Adonis framed within a frieze of foliage inhabited by a winged angel, chimeras and rabbits at the base. The back decorated ensuite, the mythological scene depicting Leandre and Hera. The silver band around the frame of the watch engraved with flowers, foliage and rabbits. All the silver panels are enclosed by edges of gilt metal. The inside of the lid and the back, each lightly engraved with an oval wreath of laurel. Giltbrass with Roman chapter ring, finely engraved with foliage, a figure of Venus above the dial, a figure of Leda with the swan below, while in the centre of the dial ring is a landscape with houses. Blued-steel single hand. Gilt-brass full plate with urn pillars, fusee with gut line, verge escapement, two-arm balance without spring, irregular foliage pierced gilt-brass cock secured by a pin, ratchet-and-wheel set-up regulator matching with blued-steel ratchet wheel and spring. Signed on the back plate. Dim. 65 x 35 mm. Notes A similar watch by Girard a Bloye was sold by Auliquoruin on October 1994. Watches by the same maker are found in the Paul Gamier Collection (Musee du Louvre in Paris), the Gelis collection in Toulouse and the Marfel Collection. Leandre Greek mythologi Read more…