Watch

ca. 1620–25

Not on view

James Vautrollier was one of sixteen craftsmen who in 1622 petitioned King James I for a charter to form a company of clockmakers in
London. The decorative border around the edge of the back plate of the movement is typical of English watches of the earlier part of
the seventeenth century. Other features typical of the period are the pinning of the decorative cock for the balance to a tenon projecting
from the plate, and the steel ratchet and click device that is used to regulate the mainspring. The case is engraved with a scene of the
Adoration of the Magi.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Watch
Maker: Movement by James Vautrollier (recorded working 1622–41; Clockmakers' Company 1632)
Date: ca. 1620–25
Culture: British, London
Medium: Case: silver, partly gilded, and gilded brass; Movement: gilded brass and steel, partly blued
Dimensions: Diam. 1-1/8 in. (2.9 cm)
Classification: Horology
Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Object Number: 17.190.1553
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Division Viol, Richard Meares British, Spruce, ebony, maple, British — Division Viol
labeled Richard Meares
ca. 1680

Repeating watch, Francis Perigal British, Case: partly enameled gold; Dial: white enamel with black numerals and silver hands set with diamonds; Movement: gilded brass and partly blued steel, British, London, for Turkish market — Repeating watch
Movement by Francis Perigal
or Francis Perigal Jr.
probably ca. 1770

Division Viol, Barak Norman British, Wood, British — Division Viol
Attributed to Barak Norman
1692

Pair-case watch, Thomas Tompion British, Outer case: leather with gold studs; inner case and dial: gold with blued-steel hands; movement: gilded brass, partly blued steel, silver, British, London — Pair-case watch
Watchmaker: Thomas Tompion
Case maker: Nathanial Delander I
1682–83

English Guittar (Cittern) with "Smith's Patent Box", Wood and various materials, British — English Guittar (Cittern) with "Smith's Patent Box"
British
mid to late 18th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.