{"product_id":"serpent-porte-montre-in-brass-signed-dinant-c-1910","title":"Serpent Porte-Montre in Brass, Signed Dinant, c.1910","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA brass serpent coiled to hold a pocket watch by the bow, struck DINANT for the Belgian brass town whose name it carries.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA pocket watch stand cast in brass as a serpent, made in Dinant and struck with the town's name on the coil.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDinant sits on the Meuse in the Belgian Ardennes and gave its name to dinanderie, the hand-worked decorative brass produced there since the medieval period. Work made in the town was marked DINANT for its origin. The serpent was a favourite subject in the years either side of 1900, and it lends itself to exactly this purpose: the tail winds into a flat ring that steadies the piece on a desk, the body rises and turns back on itself, and the open mouth becomes the hook that takes a pocket watch by its bow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe whole length is chased by hand. Close ring-scales run around the tail loop, a diamond pattern covers the back of the body, and the head is modelled with parted jaws. It stands 12.5cm to the top of the head on a base 8.5cm across, and holds an open-face watch upright, turning it into a small standing clock for a desk or bedside.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe brass carries the even colour and light wear of its age and has not been polished bright. It stands square and firm on its coil. Struck DINANT.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Estate Collection","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54903893983571,"sku":"CI-0031","price":450.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1080\/3121\/3907\/files\/serpent-porte-montre-in-brass-signed-dinant-c-1910-1.jpg?v=1788990300","url":"https:\/\/estatecollection.nl\/products\/serpent-porte-montre-in-brass-signed-dinant-c-1910","provider":"The Estate Collection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}