Skip to main content
The Walters Art Museum

Online Collection

Explore the Art Collection keyboard_arrow_down close
  • Explore By...
  • Category
  • Date
  • Medium
  • Creator
  • Places
  • Museum Locations
The Walters Art Museum walters-logo-white
  • Calendar
  • Art
  • Shop
  • Give Now
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours
    • Directions & Parking
    • Food, Drink, & Shop
    • Free Admission
    • Tours
    • Accessibility
    • Visitor Promise
  • Experience
    • Virtual Museum
    • Exhibitions & Installations
    • Programs & Events
    • Collections
    • Buildings
    • Baltimore
  • Support
    • Support the Walters
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Institutional Funders
    • Evening at the Walters
    • Volunteers
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • Leadership
    • Strategic Plan
    • Land Acknowledgment
    • Research
    • Policies
Image for Watch with a Rock Crystal Case
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Zero

Download Image Zoom
Image for Watch with a Rock Crystal Case
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Zero

Download Image Zoom
Image for Watch with a Rock Crystal Case
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Zero

Download Image Zoom
  • arrow_forward_ios
  • arrow_forward_ios
Watch with a Rock Crystal Case Thumbnail
Watch with a Rock Crystal Case Thumbnail
Watch with a Rock Crystal Case Thumbnail
Watch with a Rock Crystal Case Thumbnail
Watch with a Rock Crystal Case Thumbnail
Watch with a Rock Crystal Case Thumbnail

Watch with a Rock Crystal Case

German (Artist)
Watch: 1560; Case: ca. 1625
rock crystal, gold, and champlevé enamel case, champlevé enamel on gold dial, partially gilded brass and iron movement
(Renaissance Europe )

The watch is signed "H. K." in intricate engraving on the backplate and again, with the date 1560, under the dial. The date is very early for such a small watch, and the style is so unusual that specialists have questioned its authenticity, but analysis has revealed that the enamel composition is consistent with recipes used during the Renaissance. This tiny watch is an early example of the portable watch that was meant to be worn like jewelry.

Inscription

[Signature] Engraved on backplate: H.K.; [Signature and date] Engraved under dial: H.K. 1560

Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.

Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Share
  • social-item
  • social-item
  • social-item

Geographies

Germany (Place of Origin)

Measurements

H: 1 3/4 × W: 1 1/4 × D: 13/16 in. (4.5 × 3.1 × 2 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by Henry Walters

Location in Museum

Charles Street: Second Floor: Collector's Study

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

58.31

Do you have additional information?

Notify the curator

Hours

  • Wednesday—Sunday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.
  • Thursday: 1–8 p.m.
  • Monday—Tuesday: Closed

Location

600 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD
21201

Phone

410-547-9000

  • Visit
  • Experience
  • What's On
  • About
  • Shop
  • Support The Walters
copyright

The Walters Art Museum

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Copyright Info
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • twitter
modal close
Image for
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Tooltip description to define this term for visitors to the website.

zoom-btn zoom-btn preview-download
Image for
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Tooltip description to define this term for visitors to the website.

zoom-btn zoom-btn preview-download
Image for
tooltip-icon Creative Commons License

Tooltip description to define this term for visitors to the website.

zoom-btn zoom-btn preview-download
  • arrow_forward_ios
  • arrow_forward_ios