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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

D. Edmonds Silver Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This silver pocket watch was produced by the watchmaker D. Edmonds, who was active in Liverpool between 1787 and 1810. Attributed to the late 18th century, the watch is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The movement, which displays the maker's name and the serial number 2318, is housed within a silver case. The watch features a decorative dial with imagery that includes columns, a sun, and a checkerboard pattern. Measuring 2-1/4 inches (5.7 cm) in diameter, the object was acquired by the museum in 1889 as part of a gift from Joseph W. Drexel.

Front view of the pocket watch showing the enamel dial with masonic symbols and single hand.
Front view of the pocket watch showing the enamel dial with masonic symbols and single hand. — The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
D. Edmonds
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
89.2.94a, b
Source-reported date
late 18th century
Source-reported place
British, Liverpool
Source-reported serial
2318

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

Movement and Construction

The movement of this pocket watch is signed by D. Edmonds and features the serial number 2318, which is engraved directly onto the gilt movement plate. The mechanism shows evidence of traditional construction techniques used by Liverpool watchmakers of the period, including a balance cock with engraved scroll patterns. The movement is designed to be accessed by opening the silver case, revealing the internal gear train and the balance assembly.

The signature is prominently displayed along the lower edge of the movement plate, identifying the piece within the context of Edmonds's active period in Liverpool.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watchmaker: D. Edmonds (active 1787–1810)”

Case and Dial

The watch is enclosed in a silver case, which serves as a protective housing for the movement. The dial markers are represented in a standard layout, with a single hand used to indicate the time.

The case exhibits a circular profile with a pendant attachment at the top. The interior and exterior surfaces of the case provide space for secondary markings, including a hand-written sequence 'D 36' and the museum's accession identifiers, which have been applied to the case back during the object's tenure in the museum collection.

Evidence for this section
  • “Silver”
  • “Diam. 2-1/4 in. (5.7 cm)”

Provenance and Documentation

This watch entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art as a gift from Joseph W. Drexel in 1889. It is catalogued under the accession number 89.2.94a, b, which signifies the watch and its components. The object remains documented within the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department.

Records from the museum confirm the object's materials and its historical attribution to the late 18th century. The documentation acknowledges the watch's status as a product of D. Edmonds, active in Liverpool, as part of their broader horological collection. The record serves as the primary reference for the object's history and attribution.

Evidence for this section
  • “Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889”
  • “89.2.94a, b”
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 89.2.94a, b.”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific historical significance of the imagery depicted on the watch dial?
  • Can the movement serial number 2318 be linked to specific production records for D. Edmonds to narrow the date of manufacture?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for D. Edmonds Silver Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerD. Edmonds (active 1787–1810)“Watchmaker: D. Edmonds (active 1787–1810)”
Datelate 18th century“late 18th century”
Place of ManufactureBritish, Liverpool“British, Liverpool”
MaterialSilver“Silver”
Dimensions2-1/4 in. (5.7 cm) diameter“Diam. 2-1/4 in. (5.7 cm)”
Museum Number89.2.94a, b“89.2.94a, b”
Credit LineGift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889“Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889”

Visible details

  • The dial features masonic-themed iconography including columns and a checkerboard floor
  • The movement is engraved with the signature 'D. Edmonds Liverpool' and the number '2318'
  • The balance cock exhibits scrollwork engraving
  • The case back shows hand-written markings and the museum accession number

Research qualifications

  • The exact date of manufacture within the late 18th century range is not further refined
  • The origin of the dial design and whether it is contemporary to the movement remains unverified

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

Consulted source

Watch by D. Edmonds, British, Liverpool, late 18th century

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 19fc2bf633

Terms in this record

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

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