English silver oval pre balance spring puritan verge watch Circa 1640

Silver oval Puritan watch by Thomas Hows (Howes)
–
A rare, English oval puritan single hand pre balance spring verge pocket watch from the period of Charles I, circa 1640.
Silver, polished case with a seven-piece hinge and ring pendant. Silver dial with engraved and blackened radial Roman numerals and single blued steel hand. Signed, fire gilt, full plate movement with baluster-shaped movement pillars, gut/fusee, plain steel two-armed pre hairspring balance, finely chased and pierced floral decorated balance cock and top lock with blued click work.
–
Dimensions: 47 x 39 mm
–
Weight: 79 g
–
Signed: Thomas Hows Fecit
–
Thomas Howes was a member of the Clockmakers Company from 1632 to 1642. He died before 1655. Because of its simple appearance, which is supposed to be in character with Puritan austerity, this watch is an excellent example of the so-called “Puritan” watch style. The Puritan movement was at its most powerful during the 17th century. In 1640 Oliver Cromwell became a member of the Long Parliament and a leader of the opposition against King Charles I and the absolute monarchy. The dispute developed into the English Civil War, where Cromwell commanded the parliamentary troops and led them against the royal army. Eventually, the Puritan army triumphed, but not without frequently ransacking the country and the churches. King Charles, I was tried on a charge of treason and executed; Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector, effectively overseeing a military dictatorship. However, the intolerance of the Puritans was extremely unpopular among the people, and after Cromwell died in 1658, the monarchy was reinstated – King Charles II came into power.