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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Edward Prior silver and tortoiseshell pocket watch

Partially verified

This silver, tortoiseshell, and enamel pocket watch was made by the British watchmaker Edward Prior, who was active from 1800 to 1868. Attributed to the period circa 1849–50, the watch is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art as accession number 17.190.1452a–c. The watch features a decorative tortoiseshell case and an enamel dial. The dial displays hour markers in Eastern Arabic numerals, which are visible in the photographs. The object has a diameter of 3 inches (7.6 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired the watch in 1917 as a gift from J. Pierpont Morgan. The timepiece is currently part of the museum's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection. The object is a physical example of the output of Edward Prior's watchmaking work in London during the mid-19th century.

Front view of the Edward Prior watch showing the enamel dial with Eastern Arabic numerals and the tortoiseshell-inlaid silver case.
Front view of the Edward Prior watch showing the enamel dial with Eastern Arabic numerals and the tortoiseshell-inlaid silver case. — 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
Edward Prior
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1452a–c
Source-reported date
ca. 1849–50
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

Case and Aesthetic Design

The watch is constructed from silver, enamel, and tortoiseshell. The exterior surface of the case displays a tortoiseshell finish adorned with embedded silver details, visible in the provided photographic documentation. The case design incorporates a hinged outer cover that provides protection for the underlying dial. The pendant is situated at the top of the watch, serving as a point of attachment for a chain or fob.

The diameter of the watch measures 3 inches. The combination of silver and organic material in the casing demonstrates the visual profile of this particular watch, reflecting the materials recorded in the museum's accession documents.

Evidence for this section
  • “Silver, tortoiseshell, enamel”
  • “Diameter: 3 in. (7.6 cm)”

Dial and Signature

The dial is composed of enamel and features a signature identifying the maker as Edward Prior, with the location of London inscribed beneath the name. The hour markers are presented in Eastern Arabic numerals. The arrangement of the dial follows a standard circular layout, with the brand name positioned in the upper center of the dial surface.

The visual presentation of the dial includes an hour hand and a minute hand. These elements are set against a white ground. The photographs show the dial in detail, confirming the inscriptions and the specific numeral style used for the time display.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watch made by Edward Prior (British, active 1800–68)”
  • “London”

Provenance and Documentation

The watch is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of its European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department under accession number 17.190.1452a–c. The piece was donated to the museum by J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917. This provenance is formally established in the museum's accession records.

The museum identifies the maker as Edward Prior, a British watchmaker active in the 19th century. The dating of the object to circa 1849–50 is based on the museum's current records. The documentation provides a clear link between the physical object in the museum's collection and the provided attribution of maker and date.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1452a–c.”
  • “Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific movement type utilized within the 17.190.1452a–c watch case?
  • Do the hallmarks within the case provide evidence of a specific case maker other than Edward Prior?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Edward Prior silver and tortoiseshell pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerEdward Prior“Watchmaker: Edward Prior (British, active 1800–68)”
Dateca. 1849–50“ca. 1849–50”
MaterialsSilver, tortoiseshell, enamel“Silver, tortoiseshell, enamel”
Dimensions3 in. (7.6 cm) diameter“Diameter: 3 in. (7.6 cm)”
Museum Number17.190.1452a–c“17.190.1452a–c”
Credit LineGift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917“Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”

Visible details

  • The dial features Eastern Arabic numerals for the hour markers.
  • The outer case is finished with inlaid tortoiseshell and silver decorative elements.
  • A hinge allows the outer cover to open to reveal the dial.
  • The watch includes a pendant bow for attachment.

Research qualifications

  • The exact origin of the components, such as case and movement, remains to be verified by individual inspection of marks.
  • The historical significance of the specific numeral style on the dial is not documented in the provided source.

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

Consulted source

Watch by Edward Prior, British, London, ca. 1849–50

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 3ba068046d

Terms in this record

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

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