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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Jacques Goullons Painted Enamel Watch

Partially verified

This watch, identified by the Metropolitan Museum of Art as accession number 17.190.1627, is attributed to the maker Jacques Goullons. Active in Paris between approximately 1640 and 1660, Goullons was a French watchmaker who died in 1671. The piece is dated to approximately 1645–50. Its construction features an exterior case and dial finished in painted enamel on gold. The internal movement is manufactured from gilded brass and steel, with parts of the steel components being blued. The overall dimensions of the object are recorded as 2 5/8 by 2 5/16 inches (6.7 by 5.9 cm).

Full front view of the watch with the cover open, displaying the painted enamel dial and interior cover scene.
Full front view of the watch with the cover open, displaying the painted enamel dial and interior cover scene. — The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Jacques Goullons
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1627
Source-reported date
ca. 1645–50
Source-reported place
France

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 Dial Construction

The watch is housed in an enclosure decorated with painted enamel on gold, covering both the exterior surfaces and the dial face. The dial features a clear white chapter ring displaying Roman numerals for the hours. A central painted landscape scene is integrated into the dial surface.

The watch includes a hinged cover, which features interior painted enamel work depicting a landscape with figures and a structure, contrasting with the exterior imagery. The case is finished with an enamel suspension loop at the top, consistent with the overall aesthetic of the piece.

Evidence for this section
  • “Case and dial: painted enamel on gold”
  • “The museum records its materials as: Case and dial: painted enamel on gold”

Movement and Mechanics

The movement is constructed primarily from gilded brass and steel components. The mechanical assembly includes elements in steel, which are described as being partly blued.

The single-hand display is powered by the internal movement, which is concealed within the enameled housing.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement: gilded brass and steel, partly blued”

Provenance and Documentation

The object is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art under the accession number 17.190.1627. It entered the institution's collection as part of the Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917.

The documentation provided by the museum attributes the watch to Jacques Goullons, a French watchmaker who was active in Paris during the mid-seventeenth century. The museum identifies the place of origin as either Paris or Blois, reflecting the centres of production for such enamel-cased timepieces of the period.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1627”
  • “Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”
  • “Watch made by Jacques Goullons (French, recorded 1626, active Paris ca. 1640–60, died 1671)”

Open research questions

  • Does the movement contain an engraved signature or hallmarking that corresponds to Jacques Goullons?
  • Are there archival records linking this specific object to the workshop of Goullons in Blois versus Paris?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Jacques Goullons Painted Enamel Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerJacques Goullons“Watchmaker: Jacques Goullons (French, recorded 1626, active Paris ca. 1640–60, died 1671)”
Museum Number17.190.1627“The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1627”
Dateca. 1645–50“dated ca. 1645–50”
MaterialsPainted enamel on gold, gilded brass, steel“Case and dial: painted enamel on gold; Movement: gilded brass and steel, partly blued”
Dimensions6.7 cm x 5.9 cm“Overall: 2 5/8 × 2 5/16 in. (6.7 × 5.9 cm)”
RegionFrench, Paris or Blois“French, Paris or Blois”

Visible details

  • Painted enamel case featuring figural and landscape scenes
  • Gilded brass plates and bridge within the movement
  • White enamel dial chapter ring with Roman numerals
  • Gilded central hand with intricate filigree or pierced detail

Research qualifications

  • The exact origin within France (Paris vs. Blois) remains unspecified by the source
  • The attribution to Jacques Goullons is based on museum cataloguing rather than a visible signature in the provided photographs

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

Consulted source

Watch, Jacques Goullons, ca. 1645–50

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record b3062e555d

Terms in this record

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

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