Watch thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Watch

ca. 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Clock-watch in cases of gilt brass, piercd and engraved, with alarm and repeating mechanism. Inscribed at a later date with a chronogram: ANSELMO II. ABBATI. IVRIS. RVBRI. PARTHENONIS. ASSERTORI. DEFENSORI. AC. PACIS. ARBITRO. Recording the name of Anselm II Schwab, abbot of Salem in Baden, as protector of the Cistercian Nunnery of Rothermünster, giving the date 1771. Signed WILHELMVS KÖBERLE EŸSTET. With outer case of tooled leather and brass key. The inner case is pierced and engraved with foliage and strapwork and the balance-cock is of similar work. The face is of silver with gilt brass alarm-dial in the middle engraved with foliage. The 'pair-case' is pierced with a pattern of holes and engraved with the chronogram. The outer case is of red leather decorated with gold with enriched borders, flowers, and a star-rosette. Steel hands. Verge escapement.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Watch
  • Outer Watchcase
  • Outer Watchcase
  • Key
Materials and techniques
engraved gilt brass; silver
Brief description
Chiming, alarm and quarter-repeating coach watch in gilt-brass cases by Wilhelm Köberle, Eichstätt, Bavaria, Germany, ca. 1700
Physical description
Clock-watch in cases of gilt brass, piercd and engraved, with alarm and repeating mechanism. Inscribed at a later date with a chronogram: ANSELMO II. ABBATI. IVRIS. RVBRI. PARTHENONIS. ASSERTORI. DEFENSORI. AC. PACIS. ARBITRO. Recording the name of Anselm II Schwab, abbot of Salem in Baden, as protector of the Cistercian Nunnery of Rothermünster, giving the date 1771. Signed WILHELMVS KÖBERLE EŸSTET. With outer case of tooled leather and brass key. The inner case is pierced and engraved with foliage and strapwork and the balance-cock is of similar work. The face is of silver with gilt brass alarm-dial in the middle engraved with foliage. The 'pair-case' is pierced with a pattern of holes and engraved with the chronogram. The outer case is of red leather decorated with gold with enriched borders, flowers, and a star-rosette. Steel hands. Verge escapement.
Dimensions
  • Height: 145mm
  • Width: 115mm
  • Depth: 65mm
Object history
The watch was given in 1771 by the Cistercian nunnery of Rottenmünster, near Rottweil, to the abbot of the monastery of Salem, Anselm II Schwab (1713-78; abbot from 1746). In 1771 he celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of his election as abbot, and early in the year he helped to end a long-standing dispute between the town of Rottweil and the nunnery at Rottenmünster.
Bought by the Victoria and Albert Museum from Percy Webster, a well-known dealer, 37 Great Portland Street, London W., for £40 in 1906.
Bibliographic reference
Gustav Rommel, 'Die Taschen-Uhr des Abts Anselm II von Salem', Zeitschrift für die Geschichte des Oberrheins, vol. 100 (N.F. 61), 1952, pp. 762-5.
Collection
Accession number
276-1906

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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