Museo Galileo
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Double-case watch
    • Setting:
      Room XVIII
    • Maker:
      Cheneviere
    • Place:
      London
    • Date:
      early 18th cent.
    • Materials:
      silver
    • Dimensions:
      clock diameter 49.5 mm; thickness (with glass) c. 31 mm; outer-case diameter 56.5 mm
    • Inventory:
      3849
    • Double-case watch (Inv. 3849)
    • Double-case watch (Inv. 3849)

Probably intended for a patrician family, this watch has silver inner and outer cases. The outer one carries embossed Baroque motifs, with four busts on the sides, probably representing the persons who commissioned the watch. On the back is an allegory depicting a naked woman balancing on a wheel, carrying a cornucopia and holding the hand of a cupid with a bow. The silver dial has Roman hour numerals and Arabic five-minute numerals; the graduated minutes ring is in the Dutch mixtilinear style. At the center is a gold allegorical bas-relief composition, with a warrior's head, a lion with crown and scepter, a unicorn, and a flag trophy; below are the signature "Cheneviere, London" and a small round window for the rotating date disk. The hands are of steel. The movement has a chain fusee and verge escapement.