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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Clock watch

Clock-watch by Gabriel Tallans

Partially verified

This clock-watch is attributed to the maker Gabriel Tallans, a Swiss watchmaker active in London from 1705. The object is catalogued by The Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 17.190.1506a, b, and is dated to the period between circa 1720 and 1740. Constructed from silver and enamel, the watch measures 1 3/4 inches (4.4 cm) in diameter. The design features an external case with intricate pierced scrollwork, providing an enclosure for the movement. The dial displays Roman numerals and is fitted with gold-toned hands. The watch was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1917 as a gift from J. Pierpont Morgan. The physical composition is documented as silver and enamel.

Clock-watch by Gabriel Tallans, view of the dial and case.
Clock-watch by Gabriel Tallans, view of the dial and case. — The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Clock watch
Maker / attribution
Gabriel Tallans
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1506a, b
Source-reported date
ca. 1720–40
Source-reported place
British, London

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Construction and Materials

The clock-watch is housed in a silver case that features elaborate, pierced ornamental scrollwork throughout its exterior surface. The design incorporates a central winding aperture on the case back, which allows for the maintenance of the internal movement without fully removing the watch from its housing.

The dial is composed of white enamel, providing a high-contrast background for the black Roman numerals applied to its circumference.

Evidence for this section
  • “The museum records its materials as: Silver, enamel.”

Maker and Provenance

The movement is attributed to Gabriel Tallans, a Swiss watchmaker who was active in London from 1705. The watch is recorded in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is identified by the accession number 17.190.1506a, b.

The object entered the museum's collection in 1917. It was donated as part of a gift from J. Pierpont Morgan, a significant contributor to the museum's holdings of European decorative arts.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watchmaker: Gabriel Tallans (Swiss, act. 1705)”
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1506a, b.”
  • “Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917.”

Identification and Research

The museum documentation provides a date range for the clock-watch spanning the years 1720 to 1740. The object is classified under the department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, reflecting its status as a historical horological instrument.

Internal identification of such pieces often requires examination of case maker marks and serial numbers on the movement. As case and movement makers were occasionally distinct, the attribution of the object as a whole relies on these combined features.

Evidence for this section
  • “Compare the case maker's marks and hallmarks inside the case back, the movement signature and serial number, and the dial signature”

Open research questions

  • Does the movement signature confirm the attribution to Gabriel Tallans?
  • What are the specific hallmarks found inside the silver case?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Clock-watch by Gabriel Tallans
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerGabriel Tallans“Watchmaker: Gabriel Tallans (Swiss, act. 1705)”
Dateca. 1720–40“ca. 1720–40”
MaterialsSilver, enamel“Silver, enamel”
Diameter1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)“Diameter: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)”
MuseumThe Metropolitan Museum of Art“The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1506a, b.”
AcquisitionGift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917“Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917.”
OriginBritish, London“British, London”

Visible details

  • White enamel dial with black Roman numerals
  • Pierced silver case with intricate scrollwork
  • Accession number 17.190.1506 marked on case
  • Winding aperture visible on the case back

Research qualifications

  • The wider collectible type for this specific museum object has not been independently verified
  • The consistency of all internal components with the attributed maker is not verified

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Clock-watch by Gabriel Tallans, London, ca. 1720–40

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record d24f93654f

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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