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Watch: M.1 & A-1852

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Watchmaker: Holmes, John
Case maker: Penny, John (Possibly)

Entities

Categories

Description

Cylinder watch, in a silver pair case.
MOVEMENT: Full plate movement engraved 'J. Holmes Strand London no. 6526', cap engraved 'Jno Holmes Strand London no. 6526'. Balance cock, table pierced and engraved, rudimentary wings at neck, mask engraved on neck. blued steel end piece with diamond end stone, engraved foot. Brass balance. Slide plate engraved, silver regulation dial with radial Arabic figures 5 to 30. Pierced fusee iron post, steel case bolt with solid ears in slide in plate, nib in slot in brass edge. Worm and wheel set-up under barrel. Pillar plate with four turned pillars, with rib and tapered ends. Centre wheel recessed, third wheel under dial, third wheel bar. Third and fourth wheels crossed out in 6. Under dial scratched '5'. Fusee and chain, one lip on barrel, tangent set-up under barrel. High numbered train. Cylinder escapement, brass wheel. Train planted clockwise.

BRASS EDGE: Gilt brass, four feet.

CAP: Gilt brass. Oval table engraved as above, regulator sector, winding pipe, barrel pod and polished steel clip.

DIAL: White enamel on copper, three feet. Radial Arabic 5 min. figures, ladder min. ring, radial short Roman chapters, inner ring.

HANDS: Gold, flat, spade hour and straight minute hand.

INNER CASE: Gold, plain with body engraved with crest (heron, with anchor under one raised foot). Inside of body with London hallmark 1781 and maker's mark, incuse 'IP' scratch mark '1361' and '962' (raised edge of body, next to nib cut-out, cut away). Plain pendant and bow.

OUTER CASE (A): Gold, plain, back engraved with crest, as inner, with 'W. Pitt' engraved below, and '1782' below that, inside stamped '327'. (Catch spring and push piece missing.)

Notes

History note: The watch belonged to William Pitt in 1782.

Legal notes

Given by The Right. Hon. R. A. Christopher

Place(s) associated

  • London ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1852-11-16) by Christopher, R. A., The Right Hon.

Dating

18th Century
Production date: AD 1781

Components of the work

Dial composed of enamel ( white) copper
Edge, Cap composed of gilt brass
End Stone composed of diamond
Cases, Hands composed of gold
Regulation Dial composed of silver
Clip composed of steel
End Piece, Case Bolt composed of steel
Wheel composed of brass (alloy)
Movement (top Plate) Diameter 34.5 mm
Movement (pillar Plate) Diameter 35.25 mm
Movement (brass Edge) Diameter 38 mm
Inner Case Diameter 42 mm Height 55.5 mm Thickness 22.25 mm
Outer Case Diameter 48 mm Height 58 mm Thickness 22.25 mm
Pillar Height Diameter 6 mm
Balance, Fusee
Decoration
End Piece

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: crest (heron and anchor) and 'W. Pitt 1782'
  • Location: Back
  • Method of creation: Engraving
  • Type: Owner's mark
  • Text: J. Holmes Strand London no. 6256
  • Location: Plate movement
  • Method of creation: Engraved
  • Type: Maker's inscription
  • Text: Jno. Holmes Strand London no. 6256
  • Location: Cap
  • Method of creation: Engraved
  • Type: Maker's inscription

Inscription present: Part hidden under brass edge.

  • Text: N3
  • Location: Dial (counter enamel)
  • Method of creation: Marked in red
  • Type: Number
  • Text: IP, 1361, 962
  • Location: Inner case body
  • Type: Hallmark

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.1 & A-1852
Primary reference Number: 201781
Watch number: 6256
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Tuesday 9 June 2015 Updated: Friday 24 August 2018 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Watch" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/201781 Accessed: 2024-03-28 13:46:41

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/201781 |title=Watch |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-03-28 13:46:41|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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