German gold and enamel hunting cased verge watch Circa 1612

Gold and enamel full hunter
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An important German gold and enamel hunting cased verge pocket watch, Transience, circa 1670. The case is enamelled on both sides with a polychrome enamel scene on the back showing Damocles at Dionysios’ feast and a banner with Mortis Formido (the fear of death), the painting on the front shows a man led away by a personification of death whilst his family is clutching to him and a banner with Morte linqunda omnia (through death you have to leave everything), both subjects are taken from Otto Vaenius’ work Quinti Horatii Flacci Emblemata, on the inside of the lid is a scene of a young woman standing on a globe, held by two hands from the clouds, in the background a castle on the seashore, above a banner Alles Alles Nach Gottes Willen (all in the will of God) (consolation and admonition – the choice between life and death), the band with maritime scenes and a picture of a hunt in the forest with a castle in the background, a grisaille painting on a turquoise ground inside the cover with the portrait of a naked Venus. Fire gilt dial, a lavishly florally engraved ground, a silver chapter ring with radial Roman numerals, an engraved riverscape with a castle in the centre and an iron hand. Frosted gilt full plate movement, gut and fusee, applied blued pierced click work for spring tension, baluster-shaped and channelled movement pillars, verge escapement, iron ring balance without balance spring, florally engraved pierced balance cock. Movement signed.
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Diameter: 34 mm
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Weight: 38 g
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Signed: No name
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The enamelling on this timepiece is the earliest known example of German painting ‘en email sur email’ (in enamel, on enamel) as invented in Blois around 1625. The enamel paintings are based on engravings executed by Otto Vaenius and taken from his work ‘Quinti Horatii Flacci Emblemata’ from 1612.