All the finely pierced and engraved components on the back-plate are original. Only the plain brass balance has been replaced in more recent times. The case band has intricate designs of foliage incorporating fabulous birds and is pierced to allow the sound of the bell to escape. At the top and bottom of the case are unusual rope-twist rims. Apollo and the Nine Muses adorn the case back, each named and depicted in character: in the middle are Euterpe, Erato and Terpsichore with the other muses surrounding them.

The dial is of the highest quality. A small rectangular aperture shows the date at the top of the dial, above a subsidiary dial indicating the age and phase of the moon. To the left, another dial shows the days of the week, with each day's ruling deity appearing in a sector. On the right an engraved silver chapter ring indicates the quarters. The bottom dial is for the hours with an alarm-setting disc at its centre. Two sectors in the upper right-hand area show the seasons and the months, with the number of days in each.

It is a great pity that the cover of the watch was cut away, probably during the late seventeenth century when the watch was glazed; there can be no doubt that it too was finely engraved with a classical subject of a similar quality.

место:
Room 38-39: Clocks and Watches

будильник

надпись:
1...23

параметр:
дата

day of the week

надпись:
SABBATO

DOMINICA

LVNEDI

MARTEDI

MERCORE

GIOVEDI

VENE...

quarter

надпись:
I II III IIII

month with the number of days in each

season with the number of days in each

age and phase of the moon