E. Eysler, Nürnberg zugeschr./attr. To

An important single-handed pre-balance Nuremberg Renaissance fob watch with hour strike, illustrated and described in the report "Die Taschenuhr in ihrer zweiten Entwicklungsperiode" (The pocket watch in its second period of development) by Carl Speckhart in the Deutsche Uhrmacher-Zeitung (German watch- and clockmaker’s magazine) of 1914, No. 2. Dimensions 63 x 34 mm, circa 1570, Weight 282 g, Origin Deutschland Case: Bronze, remains of firegilding, pierced and lavishly florally ornamented, rear bell. Dial: Silver, radial Roman numerals "I-XII" and Arabic numerals "13-24", applied hour knobs for time reading by night, engraved compas rose in the centre, single iron hand. Movm.: Brass full plate movement, firegilt, maker's mark: "EE" within a shield, 2 open barrels, 1 hammer, iron trains, verge escapement, locking plate with internal teeth, solid movement pillars, stackfreed, foliot and hog's bristle regulator. This fine timepiece of museum quality is in virtually untouched original condition. The minor repairs carried out over time are negligible. The openwork case is decorated with flower motifs. On the back the flowers grow from a vase. The front lid has the appearance of a gothic-style rose window and reveals the hours on the dial. A bulging openwork edge decorated with ornamental ribbons creates a soundhole for the hour strike. This fob watch was illustrated and described in detail by Gustav Speckhart of Nuremberg on pages 21-22 of the Deutsche Uhrmacher-Zeitung (German watch- and clockmaker’s magazine), No. 2, 1914. Speckhart attributes this watch with the master's mark "EE" on the back plate to the father of important Nuremberg watchmaker Mainhart Eysler, who gave up his citizenship of Nuremberg in 1572. The name Eysler (Eisler, Eißler, Eiisler) can be traced back to almost the mid 15th century among the names of goldsmiths, silversmiths, watch and clockmakers, sculptors and similar craftsmen of Nuremberg. Eysler is one of the most outstanding among those masters who, after Henlein's death, were responsible for the great reputation of Nuremberg watchmaking. The few surviving objects made by these masters represent the first portable timepieces dating from the period 1542 to 1580. Case: very good, rubbed. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, oxydized, slightly repaired, to be restored.