Pocket watch · Pair-case clock-watch

Pair-case clock-watch

Partially verified

This 17th-century pair-case clock-watch is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 17.190.1467a, b. The timepiece is attributed to an imitator of the London clockmaker Edward East (1602–1696). The object features a pair-case construction, consisting of an inner metal case and an outer case finished in leather. The dial includes a signature for East, although the museum identifies the maker as an imitator. The watch measures 2 1/8 inches (5.4 cm) in diameter. The overall design reflects the influence of Edward East's work, a key figure who served as watchmaker and clockmaker to King Charles I and was a founding member of the London Clockmakers Company in 1631. The object is catalogued within the museum's Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts.

View of the pair-case clock-watch showing the leather outer case and the silver inner case. — 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 · Pair-case clock-watch
Maker / attribution: Imitator of Edward East
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 17.190.1467a, b
Source-reported date: 17th century
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 Exterior

The object is configured as a pair-case timepiece, comprising an internal movement housing and a protective external casing. The primary materials utilized in this construction are silver and leather, which serve both functional and decorative purposes.

The external surface of the leather case displays a decorative arrangement of small, pin-pricked indentations. This leather layer is complemented by a silver inner case that features elaborate, open-work foliate decorations on its exterior, allowing for the transmission of sound from the internal mechanism.

Evidence for this section

“Pair-case clock-watch made by Imitator of Edward East”
“Silver; leather outer case.”

Dial and Identification

The watch dial is inscribed with the name 'EAST' and the location 'LONDON'. While these inscriptions suggest the involvement of Edward East, the holding institution characterizes the maker as an imitator of the renowned horologist.

The presence of these markings and the specific font style are attributed by the museum to the 17th-century period of manufacture in London.

Evidence for this section

“Watchmaker: Imitator of Edward East (British, 1602–1697)”
“17th-century London pair-case clock-watch was produced by an imitator of East”

Provenance and Documentation

The timepiece is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It was acquired by the institution as a gift from J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917.

The museum identifies the object within its Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts under the accession number 17.190.1467a, b. This record relies solely on the documentation provided by the museum's digital archives.

Evidence for this section

“The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1467a, b”
“Photograph credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”

Open research questions

What specific technical features differentiate this 'imitator' movement from those produced directly by Edward East?
Are there records of other watches with similar pin-pricked leather case designs in 17th-century London?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Pair-case clock-watch
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker	Imitator of Edward East	“Watchmaker: Imitator of Edward East (British, 1602–1697)”
Origin	London, Britain	“from British, London.”
Date	17th century	“dated 17th century”
Materials	Silver and leather	“Silver; leather outer case”
Dimensions	2 1/8 inches	“Diameter: 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm).”
Accession Number	17.190.1467a, b	“The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1467a, b”

Visible details

Leather outer case decorated with pin-pricked floral motifs.
Inner case features an intricate, pierced silver floral repoussé cover.
Dial includes a signature reading 'EAST' and 'LONDON'.
Outer case design incorporates a consistent pattern of circular cut-outs.

Research qualifications

The maker attribution is stated by the museum as an 'Imitator of Edward East'.
The degree to which this object represents a wider historical type remains unverified.

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

Consulted source

Pair-case clock-watch by Imitator of Edward East, British, London, 17th century

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record a0f3a6c21c

Terms in this record

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