HEINRICH GEBHART STRASSBOURG. An antique French firegilt and rock crystal pendant watch, c. 1630.
Height: 65 mm.

A gilt brass and rock crystal fleur-de-lys shaped pendant watch, signed on the backplate Henry Gebart, c. 1630. The entire case and front cover are set with carved rock crystal panels in the form of a fleur-de-lys. The gilt dial plate is engraved with a river landscape, fishermen in boats and a horseman passing over a bridge. The applied silver dial represents a woman listening to a man playing a mandolin with a village in the background. A single blued-steel hand indicates the time on a Roman chapter ring. The gilt backplate has a pinned-on cock, as well as a ratchet and click set-up regulator. The movement has turned pillars, gut fusee, and balance without balance spring. • Diameter: 65 mm. • Provenance: Dr. Folschveiller Collection. • The maker, Henry Gebart or Heinrich Gebhardt (1602 – 1661) was master around 1631 and worked in Strasburg. Work by his hand is in the Würtembergisches Landesmuseum in Stuttgart and the Museum in Strasburg. • Literature: T. Camerer Cuss et al., The Sandberg watch Collection, Antiquorum, 1998, No. 277, pp. 362-363, showing a very similar watch; Tardy, Dictionnaire des Horlogers Français, Paris, 1971, p. 252

Source:  http://www.artimobrussels.com