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Nécessaire

Watchmaker: James Cox British
ca. 1770–72
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 512
Set almost entirely with red, green, and white precious stones, the favored colors of Mughal Indian jewelers, this small casket was probably intended for an Indian patron. A similar casket is to be found, however, in the collection of the Imperial Palace Museum in Beijing. The Metropolitan Museum's example is fitted with six glass boxes, with bejeweled gold covers and a gold tray fitted with steel and gold toilet articles and a tiny gold ear spoon. A second component of the casket inserted between the part containing the toilet articles and the hinged lid displays the dial of the watch, which has a revolving frame and whirling rosettes, or stars, set with paste jewels. The automation, apparently a stock mechanism, was incorporated in caskets like this one or in watches like the one by Cox in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (see 1977.436.4), suggesting that its existence was the result of the cooperation of a watchmaker, a jeweler, and a mechanician.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Nécessaire
  • Maker: Watchmaker: James Cox (British, ca. 1723–1800)
  • Date: ca. 1770–72
  • Culture: British, London
  • Medium: Case: moss agate, mounted in gold and set with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds; silver; Dial: white enamel, with frame pavé-set with paste jewels
  • Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 3 3/8 × 3 9/16 × 2 1/8 in. (8.6 × 9 × 5.4 cm);
    Overall (.128b–e): 1 1/16 x 1 x 13/16 in. (2.7 x 2.5 x 2.1 cm);
    Overall (.128f): 15/16 x 7/8 x 13/16 in. (2.4 x 2.2 x 2.1 cm);
    Overall (.128g, h): 3/4 x 1 3/8 x 15/16 in. (1.9 x 3.5 x 2.4 cm);
    Overall (.128i): 1 1/8 x 2 7/8 x 7/8 in. (2.9 x 7.3 x 2.2 cm);
    Overall (.128j–m, each): 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm);
    Overall (.128n): 2 3/8 in. (6 cm);
    Overall (.128o): 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork-Gold and Platinum
  • Credit Line: Gift of Florence Harris Van der Kemp, 1957
  • Object Number: 57.128a–o
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Pair-case automaton watch, James Cox British, Outer case: gold, partly enameled and set with gemstones and paste jewels; Inner case: gold; Dial: white enamel, with frame set with paste jewels; Movement: with diamond endstone, British, London
Pair-case automaton watch
James Cox
Peter Mounier
ca. 1770
Miniature secretary incorporating a watch, James Cox British, Case: agate, with gold mounts, gilded brass, pearls, and paste jewels set in silver; Dial: white enamel; Movement: wheel balance and cock set with paste jewels, British, London
Miniature secretary incorporating a watch
James Cox
ca. 1766–72
Automaton in the form of a chariot pushed by a Chinese attendant and set with a clock, James Cox British, Case: gold with diamonds and paste jewels set in silver, pearls; Dial: white enamel; Movement: partly gilded brass and steel, wheel balance and cock of silver set with paste jewels, British, London
Automaton in the form of a chariot pushed by a Chinese attendant and set with a clock
James Cox
1766
Jewel cabinet with watch, James Cox British, Case: agate, mounted in gilded copper and gilded brass and set with painted enamel on copper plaques, and fruitwood; Dial: white enamel, British, London
Jewel cabinet with watch
Multiple artists/makers
probably ca. 1765–70
Box with scene depicting Roman hero Gaius Mucius Scaevola before the Etruscan king Lars Porsena, P R British, Gold, British, London
Box with scene depicting Roman hero Gaius Mucius Scaevola before the Etruscan king Lars Porsena
P R
George Michael Moser
1741

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