Josephus Norris

Josephus Norris, Amsterdam, circa 1685. Fine and rare silver and tortoiseshell, pair-cased early balance spring, single-hand pocket watch with alarm. Outer: two-body, silver and tortoiseshell-covered brass, silver studs forming a rosette. Inner: two-body, “bassine”, polished back, band pierced and engraved with inhabited foliage. Silver ring with radial Roman numerals on polished cartouches, inner quarter-hour divisions, center with revolving silver alarm disc with champlevé radial Arabic numerals and fitted with a brass hour pointer. Blued steel “poker” alarm-setting hand. 37 mm, hinged, gilt brass full-plate with pierced pillars, fusee and chain, 4-wheel train set with the second wheel off-center, verge escapement brass balance with flat balance spring, single-footed cock, steel alarm train.Movement signed. Diam. 55 mm. Notes Josephus Norris became known for producing a miniature movement of only 13.7 mm now in a private collection, proving that he could be counted amongst a very small number of watchmakers, including Johann Ulrich Schmidt of Augsburg, whose mechanical miniaturization skills were unequalled at the time.