253 - H. L. Nornant

H. L. Nornant (*) An early single-handed, double-cased verge pocket watch with alarm, date, and hour strike Dimensions 49 mm, circa 1660, Weight 100 g, Origin: Germany Case: Outer and inner cases—silver, open-worked edges with lavishly engraved foliate decoration, rear bell. Dial: Silver champlevé, central rotating alarm disc, date ring with Arabic numerals. Movement: Full-plate movement, gut/fusee, 2 barrels, 2 hammers, count wheel, applied click work, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance without balance spring. H.L. Nornant was a little-known German watchmaker of the 17th century, renowned for his highly complex and artistic pocket watches. Since very few written records from this period survive, his historical significance is primarily defined by his rare, surviving masterpieces. Nornant was active in Germany around 1660. His watches exemplify the highly developed German watchmaking of the Baroque era. Case: good, worn. Dial: very good, slightly oxidized. Movement: good, oxidized, slightly repaired, in need of restoration, capable of running.