Vienna, first half of the 19th century
- Clockmaker
- most likely Carl Wurm,
- Vienna, *1798, 1824 citizen
- Case
- case made of 14 K gold, engraved, repoussé-work front with scrolling foliage, festoons and fluted pilasters, set with garnets and pearls
- Dial
- engine turned and silver-plated
- Movement
- duplex escapement, visible balance wheel with green enamel rim and garnet- and pearl-set balance cock
- Height
- 2 ½ in
This magnificent miniature table clock captivates with a technical refinement – a visible balance wheel – as well as with its precious case made of 14 carat gold with an elaborate repoussé front. This features exceptionally rich decoration including scrolling foliage, festoons and fluted corner pilasters in addition to garnets and pearls. A shimmering wreath of garnets accentuates the engine turned, silver-plated dial. Above this is the visible balance wheel with a green enamel rim and a balance cock studded with garnets and a pearl. The mechanism with duplex escapement presumably originates from the hand of renowned Viennese clockmaker Carl Wurm (active during the first half of the 19th century), who crafted several delicate little clocks of this type. A very similar model, also produced by Carl Wurm, is published and depicted in Frederick Kaltenböck’s standard reference work “Viennese Timepieces”.