PIERRE COMBRET LYON. An antique astronomical firegilt and silver clock watch, dated 1606. Height: 84 mm.

An oval gilt-brass and silver astronomical, six-hour striking clock watch with alarm, signed and dated on the backplate Pierre Combret ALyon 1606. The oval case has engraved silver covers in the style of Etienne Delaune, depicting The Judgment of Paris and Diana and Endymion. The band is pierced and engraved with foliage, cherubs and animals. The gilt and silver dial, reading from the centre: revolving disk with aspectarium, moon-phases, lunar date, hours and half hours, year calendar with signs of the Zodiac, the days and months. There are apertures at XII o’clock for the date and at VI o’clock for day of the week shown as the relevant planet with ruling sign. • Height: 84 mm. • The maker, Pierre (II) Combret (1581 - 1622), was the son of a clockmaker with the same name who lived from 1570 until 1585. A very similar watch by Pieree II dated 1613 from the Pierpont Morgan collection is now in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. • Literature: Tardy, Dictionnaire des Horlogers Français, Paris, 1971, p. 137/38 ; G.C. Williamson, Catalogue of the collection of Watches of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1912, p. 26.

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