German gold and enamel painted oval pendant watch Circa 1670

Gold and enamel watch by Joh. Gottl. Ulrich
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An oval German gold and polychrome enamel painted watch with later custom made movement case, circa 1665-1675, movement circa 1760. The later custom made oval gilded movement, signed by Joh. Gottl. Ulrich, Hamburg, features a verge escapement, a flat steel three arm balance, and a decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock. It includes a silver regulation plate, fusee and chain, and cylindrical pillars. The later silver dial plate exhibits Roman numerals, inner and outer minute rings, and a central engraved blazing sun motif, all surrounded by gilded engravings of flowers and foliage.
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The case is crafted from gold and features polychrome enamel painting. The back and vignette panels on the sides depict scenes from the story of Pyramus and Thisbe. The interior displays figures of Pyramus and Thisbe set against a turquoise background enhanced with blue and green enamel. It is finished with a later decoratively engraved bezel.
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Length: 47mm
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Signed: Joh. Gottl. Ulrich, Hamburg
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Movement is running and striking on the hour, with trip repeat also operating and sounding clearly on the bell. The strike silent lever does not remain in the silent position and resets itself to the strike position before the hour is reached. There are small marks and scratches present. The dial has been cleaned, with no wax infill in the numerals, and there are small marks and scratches. The case exhibits light scuffs and scratches, but the decorative scheme remains well defined on the band. The thumb piece on the outer case is quite dented. Additionally, there are light scuffs and scratches on the outer case. The sprung pusher on the outer case does not currently reach or activate the trip repeat, as its spring mounted beneath the bezel is worn and bent, likely requiring replacement.
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Joh. Gottfr. Ulrich from Hamburg is mentioned by Abeler in Meister der Uhrmacherkunst as having been born on 15 August 1715. Ulrich passed away on 29 January 1783. In his entry for Ulrich, Abeler references a gold and enamel watch in the style of Huaut[d].
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The enamel case of the current watch is most likely German (though it may possibly be Netherlandish) and dates to approximately 1665-1675. The movement has been custom made to fit the case and would certainly have been produced to replace the original movement, which may have been damaged, or to enhance the watch’s timekeeping.
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The tale of Pyramus and Thisbe is recounted in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Forbidden to wed by their parents, the protagonists secretly arrange to meet beyond their city’s walls. Thisbe, arriving first, encounters a lioness drinking from a fountain. Frightened, Thisbe flees, inadvertently dropping her cloak. The lioness, having just come from a kill with blood around its mouth, proceeds to tear Thisbe’s cloak to shreds. Upon reaching the scene, Pyramus discovers Thisbe’s shredded and bloodied cloak and, assuming the worst, takes his own life. Thisbe returns to find her lover dead and, in her grief, throws herself upon his sword. Pyramus’s blood was said to colour mulberries red for all time. In James Hall’s Dictionary of Symbols and Subjects in Art, the author notes that: “the death scene became widely popular in post Renaissance painting”. The vignettes to the sides of the case include depictions of Thisbe fleeing from the lioness as well as Thisbe collapsing onto Pyramus’s sword upon discovering his body.