ADVENT GOLDEN WATCH

Advent Calendar Day 24

 
An ornate golden, metallic, spherical ball with a clock face on the front

   

Spherical cased watch, c. 1530–1550

This spherical cased verge clock-watch with stackfreed was made by an anonymous German artist, around 1530–1550. It is made of delicately engraved gilt-brass.

Many of the first watches were made in the German cities of Nuremberg and Augsburg during the 16th century. It is thought that the very earliest of watches were made in spherical cases just like this one. This sort of design closely follows the design of pomanders which were very popular during the first half of the 16th century.

Spherical cased watch

Anonymous, German
c. 1530–1550
WA1947.191.1

See it on display in the West Meets East Gallery

   

An ornate golden, metallic, spherical ball with a clock face on the front