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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Litherland Davies & Co. Gold Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This gold pocket watch was manufactured in Liverpool, with the movement produced by Litherland Davies & Co. and the case by Thomas Helsby. It is constructed from cast and chased gold, featuring a gold dial with an engine-turned center and Roman numeral hour markers. The watch is signed 'Litherland Davies & Co., Liverpool' alongside the serial number 8463 on the movement. It incorporates Chester hallmarks corresponding to the 1815-16 period. The internal casing exhibits the maker's mark 'TH' for Thomas Helsby. The movement includes a lever escapement, as indicated by the engraving on the plates. Its dimensions are 5.4 cm in height, 4.6 cm in width, and 2.4 cm in depth. The object is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum collection, having been bequeathed by Mr. H. A. Hance.

Gold pocket watch with chased case and movement signed by Litherland Davies & Co.
Gold pocket watch with chased case and movement signed by Litherland Davies & Co. — Victoria and Albert Museum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collections.vam.ac.uk
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Litherland Davies & Co.
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
M.1111-1927
Source-reported date
1815-16
Source-reported place
Liverpool
Source-reported serial
8463

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 Design

The pocket watch features a gold case that has been cast and chased with decorative details. The exterior of the case shows a dense, foliate relief pattern across the band. The dial is also fashioned from gold and incorporates an engine-turned, guilloché-style pattern within the central area, surrounded by a chapter ring featuring Roman numerals for the hours.

The watch movement, signed by Litherland Davies & Co., Liverpool, displays internal engraving indicating the use of a detached lever escapement.

Evidence for this section
  • “Cast and chased gold watch”
  • “movement by 'Litherland Davies & Co., Liverpool, 8463'”

Signatures and Marks

The watch is marked for both the watchmaker and the casemaker. The movement carries the signature 'Litherland Davies & Co., Liverpool' followed by the serial number 8463. The inner case back bears the casemaker's mark 'TH', attributed to Thomas Helsby, accompanied by a set of Chester assay hallmarks.

There is a discrepancy in the provided documentation regarding the hallmarks, which are cited in one instance as 1815-16 and in the physical description as 1837-38. The serial number 8463 appears both on the movement and stamped within the case, though the text occasionally refers to 8468.

Evidence for this section
  • “signed 'Litherland Davies & Co., Liverpool, 8468'”
  • “mark 'TH' for Thomas Helsby”
  • “Chester hallmarks for 1815-16”
  • “Chester hallmarks for 1837-38”

Provenance and Documentation

The object is catalogued by the Victoria and Albert Museum under the accession number M.1111-1927. The provenance of the piece is linked to the estate of Mr. H. A. Hance, by whom it was bequeathed to the institution.

The record provides detailed measurements of the watch, noting a height of 5.4 cm and a width of 4.6 cm. Despite the specific dimensions and maker information provided in the V&A records, the internal contradictions regarding the dating and serial numbering remain as part of the museum's documented descriptive history.

Evidence for this section
  • “Accession number: M.1111-1927”
  • “Bequeathed by Mr H A Hance”
  • “Height: 5.4 cm; Width: 4.6 cm; Depth: 2.4 cm”

Open research questions

  • Does the 1815 or 1837 hallmark date align better with the serial number 8463 in Litherland Davies & Co.'s production records?
  • What is the origin of the contradictory '8468' serial number reference found in the source documentation?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Litherland Davies & Co. Gold Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerLitherland Davies & Co.“Litherland Davies & Co. (watchmakers)”
CasemakerThomas Helsby“Thomas Helsby (casemaker)”
Serial Number8463“movement by 'Litherland Davies & Co., Liverpool, 8463'”
Place of OriginLiverpool“Place of origin: Liverpool (made)”
HallmarksChester 1815-16“Chester hallmarks for 1815-16”
Dimensions5.4 cm x 4.6 cm x 2.4 cm“Height: 5.4 cm; Width: 4.6 cm; Depth: 2.4 cm”
Accession NumberM.1111-1927“Accession number: M.1111-1927”

Visible details

  • Cast and chased gold case exterior with floral pattern
  • Roman numeral hour track on a gold engine-turned dial
  • Movement signed 'Litherland Davies & Co., Liverpool' with serial number 8463
  • Engraved text 'Patent' and 'Detached Lever' on the movement plates

Research qualifications

  • The V&A physical description contains a conflicting date of 1837-38 for the hallmarks, while the primary record states 1815-16.
  • The movement serial number is recorded as 8463 in both the description and on the plates, while the source text contains a conflicting mention of 8468.

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

Consulted source

Watch

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record fa6fa70abc

Terms in this record

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

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