Christie’s roundel
Lot 351 VARIOUS PROPERTIES

Serner. An unusual and early silver pair case openface wandering hour royal presentation verge watch with the enamel portrait of King George I

SIGNED JOH. JAC. SERNER, LÜBECK, 232, CIRCA 1720

Closed16 November 2009

Price Realised

CHF 20,000

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Serner. An unusual and early silver pair case openface wandering hour royal presentation verge watch with the enamel portrait of King George I
Signed Joh. Jac. Serner, Lübeck, 232, circa 1720
Gilt-finished verge movement, chain fusée, finely pierced and engraved foliage decorated foot, balance cock set with the polychrome enamel portrait of a gentleman, finely engraved foliage decorated silver dial, aperture for the Roman wandering hours in the revolving ring, outer silver 60 minutes indication, applied gilt military trophies centred by the oval polychrome painted portrait of King George I, surmounted by the Royal Crown held by two eagles, plain circular case, movement signed
52 mm. diam.

Specialist note

The present watch is a fine example of a so-called Royal presentation watch, set with the portrait of King George I of England (1660-1727), made for his household and given as gift to dignitaries or friends of his Majesty. The wandering hour mechanism was particularly popular during the late 17th/early 18th century.

The watchmaker Johann Jakob Serner I in Lübeck is listed in Jürgen Abeler's Meister der Uhrmacherkunst, p. 581, as active in the first quarter of the 18th century.