Johann Christoph Erhardt

Johann Christoph Erhardt, Augsburg, circa 1720. Fine and rare gilt brass wandering hour watch with painted on enamel portrait. Three-body, glazed on both sides, "Consular" type, polished and gilt. Silver, Roman champlevé "wandering" numerals appear in a circular window of a gilt engraved segment set at the top, surmounted by silver Arabic minute chapter segment. The window, with the correct hour inside, points to the correct minutes, below the Roman numeral quarter-hour segment. The bottom, with an applied miniature enamel portrait of a lady surrounded by two trumpeting cherubs. 46 mm., hinged, gilt full platewith elaborate Egyptian pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain steel balance with flat balance spring, double-footed glass cock.Signed on the movement.Diam. 64 mm. Notes Watches with a wandering hour dial first appeared in the 17th century. In England, records indicate that they were often commissioned by the king to be presented to visitors or in recognition of loyal services to the country. It appears that the custom existed in Germany as well. Most German wandering hour watches feature portraits, often of Frederick I. Watches with such portraits were usually intended as gifts from the sovereign for another German wandering hour watch with the portrait of Frederick I, see the Lord Sandberg Collection, Antiquorum March 31, 2001, o. 11.