Brienz Carved Watch Box, Edelweiss on the Cover, c.1900
A Swiss carved box made to hold a small pocket watch at the bedside or on a desk, its cover carved with edelweiss in low relief.
The carving follows the Brienz workshop tradition: an edelweiss with its star of pointed petals worked over a finely stippled ground, framed by scalloped borders on a fluted, barrel-cut body. The watch sits face up in a circular recess, 3.5cm across, lined in green baize. The arched carved cover is hinged at one end and folds over the watch to shield the glass, then lifts clear when the watch is in use. It measures 9.5 by 5cm.
Edelweiss is the flower of the Swiss Alps, and boxes carved with it were made in and around Brienz from the 1880s onward, sold to travellers alongside the region's carved bears, chalets and leafwork. This one is cut more crisply than most, and the face beneath the cover is carved with wavy hatched bands.
The wood is sound and solid with no cracks or splits, and the hinge folds cleanly. The green baize is original, worn and faded with age but intact and stuck down. There are small chips to the scalloped edges consistent with its years. It carries no maker's mark, as most Brienz work does not. Unrestored throughout.
