Com•aclt Kreizer

Com•aclt Kreizer, (IV ? ) Augsburg or Strasburg, circa 1660. Fine and rare gilt-metal and rock crystal pendant watch. Three-body frame, the centre section inset with seven faceted rock crystal panels, the hinged back and front covers with similar inset panels. Flat section loose-ring pendant double-pivoted on a bar. Octagonal gilt-brass dial plate with locating lugs, applied silver chapter ring with black enamelled Roman numerals. Later blued-steel hand. Octagonal gilt-brass full plates with turned urn pillars, fusee with gut line, three wheel train, verge escapement with plain two-arm steel balance without spring. Irregular florally pierced and engraved balance cock secured by a pin, the ratchet wheel setup cock with similar decoration. Secured in the case by a double spring clip. Signed on the back plate (scratched). Dims. 54 x 34 mm. including the pendant Notes The Kreizer family became a veritable dynasty of watchmakers, with at least four apparently bearing the same christian name. Some uncer tainty exists as to whether Conrad III and IV were not in fact the same person, but certainly one of the F-eizer ' s occupied the position of cloclanaker to the Flights of the Grand Cross of Malta and indeed several watches signed by Freize r use their characteristic cross as the form for the pendant. The watch now offe red for sale has a pendant of similar construction, perhaps the form used for watches destined for 'secular' clients, but in all other aspects it is typical