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Watch with alarm

Movement by Nicholas Vallin Flemish
ca. 1600
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 509
The son of the Flemish clockmaker John Vallin (ca. 1535–1603), Nicolas became the leading clock- and watchmaker in London. Both John and Nicolas emigrated to England, probably shortly before 1590 and undoubtedly as the result of political troubles in The Netherlands. Both father and son died in the London plague epidemic of 1603. The watch, which has a verge escapement, runs a little more than twenty-four hours per each winding, and originally it struck the hours in passing (a single blow on the bell at each hour).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Watch with alarm
  • Maker: Movement by Nicholas Vallin (Flemish, active ca. 1590–died 1603)
  • Date: ca. 1600
  • Culture: British, London
  • Medium: Case: gilded brass, slver; movement: gilded brass, with an alarm train of iron
  • Dimensions: Diameter: 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm)
  • Classification: Horology
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.190.1476
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

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Watch in the form of a Lesser George, Nicholas Vallin Flemish, Case and dial: gold, partly enameled; movement: gilded brass and steel, British, London
Watch in the form of a Lesser George
Nicholas Vallin
ca. 1600
Traveling clock watch with alarm, Thomas Tompion British, Case and dial: silver; Movement: gilded brass, partly blued steel, silver, British, London
Traveling clock watch with alarm
Thomas Tompion
Nathanial Delander I
ca. 1680
Longcase clock with calendar, Joseph Knibb British, Case: walnut and oak veneered with walnut; dial: gilded and silvered brass; movement: brass, steel, British, London
Longcase clock with calendar
Joseph Knibb
ca. 1680–85
Longcase clock with calendrical, lunar, and tidal indications, also known as the Graves Tompion, Thomas Tompion British, Case: oak veneered with walnut, panels of oystershell-cut olive wood; marquetry panels of green-stained bone, ivory, various woods; mounts: gilded brass; dial: gilded and silvered brass; movement: brass, steel, British, London
Longcase clock with calendrical, lunar, and tidal indications, also known as the Graves Tompion
Thomas Tompion
Jasper Braem
ca. 1677–80
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

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