Previous lot Add to wishlist Place bid now Next lot
292nd Auction: Watches
on
October 24th 2026
In 19 days, 16:30 o'clock
Save date
Place:
Süderstrasse 282
20537 Hamburg
Preview times:
Monday, October the 12th to Friday, October the 23rd from 11-17 o'clock
Please make an appointment with us.
No preview during the auction!
Bidform »
(PDF 205 KB)
292-4259 Pocket watch: a significant, extremely rare gold pocket watch with an automaton, John May, London, c. 1700
Approx. Ø54mm, approx. 146g, 18-carat gold, heavy gold case, early verge movement, signed John May London, gold dial with a window at the ‘12’ position, beneath which is a rotating enamel disc featuring six paintings of figures in very fine paintings, the automaton triggered by a lever on the rim, iron hands, movement intact. Gold pocket watches with automatons are extremely rare. John May was active in London from 1692. A well-known London watchmaker (member of the Clockmakers’ Company from 1692). A famous example of his work – a richly decorated silver enamelled pocket watch dating from around 1700 – is now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Limit: 8.500 €
Estimate: 15.000 €