254 - Josef Endres - Memento Mori

Josef Endres - Memento Mori A rare Friedberg pendant watch in the shape of a skull, with a concealed dial and a matching watch chain featuring links in the shape of skulls and crossbones Dimensions: 39 x 37 x 46 mm, circa 1730, Weight: 92 g, Origin: Germany Case: Silver, engraved, hinged. Dial: Silver champlevé. Movement: Full-plate movement, chain/fusee, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance. The jaw of the two-part skull can be opened at the back of the head to reveal the dial set into the lower jaw. This skull watch was part of the Lukas Stolberg collection and is illustrated and described in his book “Ich trage, wo ich gehe, stets eine Uhr bei mir. Die Taschenuhr im Wandel der Zeit” (Klagenfurt 1980, pp. 48 ff.) and in Klassik Uhren 6/1997, pp. 40 ff. Andreas Endres (1689–1780) was a master watchmaker from Friedberg (Bavaria), which in the 17th and 18th centuries was an important center for the production of small clocks and ornate timepieces. Born in 1689, he died in 1780 at the remarkable age of 91. Endres was part of the renowned Friedberg watchmaking tradition, in which numerous master watchmakers produced fine travel clocks, table clocks, and pocket watches. For marketing purposes, Endres used an anagram of his name, “SERDNE,” and added “London” to his signature—a nod to English watchmakers. Many Friedberg watchmakers of this period appear with translated or reversed names and with a fake “London,” “Paris,” or “Augsburg” designation. Case: very good, worn. Dial: very good. Movement: very good, capable of running.