Large French silver verge oignon pocket watch Circa 1690

Silver onion watch by Gilles Martinot  
–
An extremely rare and large French silver oignon pocket watch, circa 1690. Very early verge movement, special pillars, a unique silver bridge showing the sun and Renaissance motifs. White enamel dial with Roman hours and Arabic five minutes, polychrome enamel erotic scene in the centre, iron hands. High relief case, an oval cartouche with a portrait on the back. Movement signed in working order.
–
Diameter: 59 mm
–
Weight: 150 g
–
Signed: Gilles Martinot à Paris
–
Gilles Martinot was born in 1658 as the son of Balthazar Martinot and Catherine Hubert. He was the brother of Balthazar, Etienne and Claude Martinot. In 1687, he married Élisabeth Lejeune. Later, he was possibly married a second time to Nicolle Laurent because she is mentioned in the archives as a deceased widow. Gilles was the father of Louis Henry Martinot. He worked as a watchmaker in Paris and was Court Watchmaker to Louis XIV. He died in 1726.