Casper Rauber, Augsburg

AN EARLY AND VERY RARE GILT-METAL TAMBOUR CASED TWO-TRAIN CLOCK WATCH WITH STACKFREED AND HOG'S BRISTLE REGULATOR CIRCA 1570

• Movement: iron, verge escapement, dumb-bell foliot, count wheel recessed into the backplate, hog's bristle regulator with brass regulation dial, stackfreed mounted to the backplate, flat pillars, striking a bell mounted to the inside case back, stamped CR within a shield for Casper Rauber
• Dial: gilded, Roman numerals with touch pins above, inner 24-hour ring, dial centre with blazing motif composed of intertwined serpents and a star motif
• Case: gilt brass, the front bezel decorated with stylised leaves and fruit and lacking its cover, the back cover pierced for sound emission and engraved with fruit and scrolling serpents, the band similarly rendered
diameter 59mm

Provenance:
Casper Rauber is recorded as a watchmaker in Augsburg in 1556 and was a master in 1572.

The tambour-shaped watch case was derived from the cases of early drum-shaped spring-driven clocks. The touch pins positioned at the hours allow the time to be read in the dark.