An early 18th century Austrian silver telleruhr timepiece with engraved dragon hand
Johann Franz Treibler, Innsbruck
The shaped plate surmounted by a large brass suspension ring, the delicate repousse silver mask depicting a bust of a woman surrounded by foliate C-scrolls and swags, with a large rose to each side, screwed to a thicker metal plate supporting the movement's shaped dust cover to the rear. The engraved gilt brass Roman and Arabic chapter ring with floral cruciform half-hour markers, the engraved dragon minute hand with an elaborate knotted hour hand. The spring driven verge movement with four knopped and ringed pillars and a front swinging pendulum with stone set bob, the back plate engraved with a wave border and an elaborate cartouche at the top signed Io Franz Treibler, a similar cartouche at the bottom inscribed Insprvgg. 33.5cms (13ins) wide
Footnotes:
At least two other telleruhr's are known by Johann Franz Treibler; one is a striking clock and it's mask depicts a much older woman. It is possible the masks were a series representing the seasons; it was fairly common to personify the seasons and tie them to human stages of life; Spring being represented as a fair youth; summer as harvesters in field, autumn as wine makers or imbibers, and Winter as an elder. Another similar telleruhr is held by the Tiroler Landesmuseum in Austria. It is ascribed to Johann Franz Treibler who worked in Innsbruck around 1710/1720.

The back of the dial bears practise engraving; 'JO', possibly an 'R' and a '20'. It is likely that the 'JO' refers to the maker, while 20 could be a personal serial number or the date 1720.