Important Austrian gold and enamel verge watch Circa 1690

Gold pocket watch with top quality enamel paintings
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An important enamel pocket watch made by Andreas Förster in Vienna, Austria, circa 1690. The case of this watch was crafted from 20 carat gold and has a top quality polychrome enamel painting on the back depicting Venus, the Roman goddess of love, Cupid, the Roman god of love, Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and Ceres, the Roman goddess of fertility and harvest blessing, and four further oval medallions on the band with representations of various ruins based on work by Gabriel Perelle (1603-1677). The inside of the case is also painted, depicting a ruin in an idealized landscape with people in the background. The white enamel dial has Arabic hour numerals, outer minute divisions and gilt hands. The numbered movement is fitted with a verge escapement. The case band is signed Les deux frère Huaut pintre de son A.E. de B. à Berlin and the movement is signed by the watchmaker.
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Diameter: 40 mm
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Weight: 60 g
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Signed: Andreas Förster Junior Wienn
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Pocket watches with cases from Huaud are of great value and have been sold for high prices at auctions for decades. Rarely are watches as beautifully preserved as this example.
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Les deux frère Huaut pintre de son A.E. de B. à Berlin is a French phrase that translates to: “The two Huart brothers, painters of his A.E. from B. in Berlin”.

The text likely refers to an entry or annotation in a historical document, catalogue or reference material (such as a biography or art index) that identifies two painters named Huart who were working in Berlin around the year 1690.

The abbreviation “A.E.” most likely stands for Altesse Électorale or Altesse Sérénissime Électorale, which translates to Electoral Highness. This title would have been used for the Elector of Brandenburg, the ruler of Berlin at the time (specifically, Frederick III, who later became King Frederick I of Prussia).

Therefore, the full meaning describes the Huart brothers as official painters employed by the Elector of Brandenburg’s court in Berlin around 1690. Watchmakers from across Europe would order these exquisitely painted cases and then build the watch movement to fit inside.