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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Pocket watch by Denis Bordier

Partially verified

This pocket watch, held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession number 17.190.1569), is attributed to the Genevan watchmaker Denis Bordier (active 1629–1677, died 1708). Dated to approximately 1650, the object is constructed from silver, gilded brass, and blued steel. The interior of the hinged lid bears an engraved wreath motif. The watch includes an integrated pendant loop for attachment. Its overall dimensions are approximately 5.1 cm by 3.5 cm by 1.9 cm.

Frontal view of the pocket watch by Denis Bordier (accession 17.190.1569), with the lid open to reveal the engraved dial and the interior of the cover.
Frontal view of the pocket watch by Denis Bordier (accession 17.190.1569), with the lid open to reveal the engraved dial and the interior of the cover. — 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
Denis Bordier
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1569
Source-reported date
ca. 1650
Source-reported place
Switzerland

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 Design

The pocket watch is housed in an oval case characterized by a deeply fluted or ribbed exterior, which creates a pronounced rhythmic texture around the perimeter. The case is constructed of silver. The hinged lid, when opened, reveals a dial surface that is densely populated with intricate engraving. The central area of the dial features a bouquet of flowers within an urn, rendered in low relief.

The chapter ring consists of twelve Roman numerals applied against a silver ground. The dial is further accented with foliate scrolls and animal motifs integrated into the outer decorative field. The inner surface of the hinged cover contains a simple, symmetrical laurel wreath motif, engraved along the inner edge. A single hour hand is centrally mounted to indicate time on the dial.

Evidence for this section
  • “Silver, gilded brass, blued steel”
  • “Overall: 2 × 1 3/8 × 3/4 in. (5.1 × 3.5 × 1.9 cm).”

Maker and Attribution

The watch is attributed to the watchmaker Denis Bordier, a professional active in Geneva between 1629 and 1677. Records provided by The Metropolitan Museum of Art categorize the object within the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department. The piece is part of the collection acquired via the gift of J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917.

The documentation identifies the place of origin as Geneva, Switzerland, adhering to the historical context of Bordier’s workshop activity. While the attribution to Bordier is documented by the museum, the record specifies that the wider typological details and horological specifications of the movement remain subject to further research and verification against horological standards.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watchmaker: Denis Bordier (active Geneva, 1629–1677, d. 1708)”

Documentation and Provenance

This object is catalogued as accession number 17.190.1569 within the holdings of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The provenance is explicitly linked to the gift of J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917, which serves as a primary point of historical record for the piece.

The museum collection records serve as the definitive source for this entry. No external catalogue references or specific horological literature citations have been provided by the current source. The documentation status is listed as partial, acknowledging that while the object is a verified museum piece, its broader context within the history of 17th-century European watchmaking has not been independently elaborated upon in the provided records.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1569”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific type of escapement housed within the movement?
  • How does the movement construction compare to other recorded examples by Denis Bordier from the 1650 period?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Pocket watch by Denis Bordier
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerDenis Bordier (active Geneva, 1629–1677, d. 1708)“Watchmaker: Denis Bordier (active Geneva, 1629–1677, d. 1708)”
Dateca. 1650“ca. 1650”
MaterialsSilver, gilded brass, blued steel“Silver, gilded brass, blued steel”
Dimensions5.1 × 3.5 × 1.9 cm“Overall: 2 × 1 3/8 × 3/4 in. (5.1 × 3.5 × 1.9 cm).”
Museum Number17.190.1569“The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1569”
OriginSwiss, Geneva“Swiss, Geneva”

Visible details

  • Case features a deeply ribbed or fluted profile
  • Dial decorated with elaborate floral and foliate engraving
  • Hinged lid engraved with a wreath motif on the interior
  • Single central hand mounted on the dial

Research qualifications

  • Requires further research to confirm the wider type and maker attribution against horological references
  • Museum records note the object is a single specimen; verify mechanical specifications against independent horological studies

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

Consulted source

Watch by Denis Bordier, Swiss, Geneva, ca. 1650

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 05b0b0488d

Terms in this record

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

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