German important Renaissance “clock watch” Circa 1600

Drum shaped “clock watch” with hour strike and alarm
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A German important single handed and pre balance spring Renaissance drum shaped “clock watch” with hour strike and alarm, circa 1600.
Brass case, fire gilt, allover rich open work floral chasing and engraving. Brass dial, fire gilt, outer chapter ring with Roman numerals “I-XII”, inner chapter ring with Arabic hours “13-24”, applied hour knobs for time reading by night, engraved compass rose to the centre, finely cut iron hand. Fire gilt brass full plate movement, signed, florally engraved, verge escapement, 2 hammers, three open springs, locking plate with internal teeth, foliot without balance spring.
The front is decorated with spoke shaped open work detail showing the hours, the back with mascarons and figures, leaf scrolls and animal motifs around the edge: monkeys, dogs, a hare and a horse.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Weight: 223 g
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Signed: Michael Gruber, Nuremberg
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Michael Gruber
Gruber worked in Nuremberg in the second half of the 16th century and in the early 17th century; he became a master in 1604. Many of his clocks are part of important collections or are held by the British Museum in London.