Nicolaus Delle

Nicolaus Delle, Augspurg, circa 1750. Fine and extremely rare silver watch with built-in detachable gilt brass, universal equinoctial Augsburg compass dial. Double body “Oignon”, polished, the back with a glazed aperture allowing the sundial to be seen. Silver champlevé with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring with arched divisions and gilt half-hour dots. Gilt brass Louis XV hands. Hinged gilt brass full plate with square baluster pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring and gilt brass English type cock pierced and engraved with foliage. Silver dust cap topped with a very fine gilt brass, universal equinoctial Augsburg compass dial.Signed on the dial and back plate.Diam. 54 mm. Notes Delle, Johann Nikolaus, Augsburg and Dantzig (Master 1732, died 1759).Established on his own account May 10, 1733, following his marriage to the widow of the clockmaker Joseph Anton Schöner, son of Christoph Schöner of Augsburg.The Schöner family were equally renowned for their instruments as for their clocks and watches.Watches incorporating a complete Universal Equinoctial Sundial are exceptionally rare. To date there appear to be only two known to have survived, both dating from the 2nd quarter of the 18th century. The concept of incorporating a sundial into a portable timekeeper dates back to the 16th century, most probably also to the workshops in Augsburg, but these were relatively simple versions, with a gnomon set for a