Silver pair-cased verge watch by Octavy Johann Dennicken
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1720
This pocket watch is an early 18th-century pair-cased timepiece signed by Octavy Johann Dennicken of Konigsberg. The watch features a silver champlevé dial displaying a sun-and-moon aperture, where a rotating disc indicates day and night hours.
A single steel hand reads against an outer Arabic minute ring and an inner semi-circular chapter ring with Roman numerals. The lower portion of the dial is decorated with two eagles flanking the maker's signature. The watch is powered by a gilded full-plate movement with a verge escapement, fusee and chain, and a silver balance cock pierced and engraved with birds and a tortoise. The internal pillars are mounted with pierced and engraved eagle figures holding attributes such as a sword and an anchor.
The timepiece is housed in a pair case, with the outer shell featuring tortoiseshell and piqué work.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 1720
- Type
- Sun and moon verge watch
- Maker
- Octavy Johann Dennicken
- Escapement
- Verge
- Dial material
- Silver
- Place recorded
- Konigsberg
- Maker / attribution
- Octavy Johann Dennicken
- Outer case decoration
- Tortoiseshell and silver piqué
- Movement pillar detail
- Pierced eagles
Design
- Visible features
- • The dial contains a rotating day and night disc featuring a sun and moon. • The movement pillars are decorated with eagle-shaped embellishments. • The dial is signed 'Octavy Johann Dennicken' and 'KONIGSBERG'. • The watch is contained within a silver pair case.
- Case and Exterior
- The watch is preserved in a pair-cased configuration. The outer case is covered in tortoiseshell and features decorative silver piqué work. This work includes a central stylised flower motif and four coronets positioned at the edge. The front bezel of the outer case contains additional pin work decoration. The watch pendant is noted as being plain.
- Dial and Timekeeping
- The watch features a silver champlevé dial designed with an aperture for a sun-and-moon display. This feature uses a rotating disc to indicate day and night phases, with a golden sun and silver moon shown against a blued steel sky. Daytime hours are marked by the sun, while nighttime hours correspond to the moon and stars. Time is indicated by a single steel hand on an outer Arabic minute ring and an inner semi-circular chapter ring bearing Roman numerals. The lower half of the dial is finished with two eagle figures supporting signed banners, identifying the maker and location.
- Movement Construction
- The movement is a gilded full-plate assembly incorporating a verge escapement. Power is transmitted through a fusee and chain mechanism. Regulation is managed by a silver disc. The balance cock is executed in silver and features piercing and engraving depicting three birds alongside a tortoise, while the broad cock foot is engraved with scrolling foliage. The movement structure is reinforced by plain brass pillars, each decorated with a pierced and engraved eagle holding specific attributes such as a sword and anchor.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The precise mechanism of the tortoiseshell piqué work on the outer case is not fully visible in the provided photographs.
- Research required: The condition of the fusee chain is not explicitly described in the source text.