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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Pocket watch by Pierre Le Roy

Partially verified

This pocket watch is held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 17.190.1586. The watch is attributed to the French horologist Pierre Le Roy (1717–1785), who was active in Paris during the eighteenth century. The object is recorded as dating to circa 1770–95. The physical construction of the watch utilizes gold and enamel. It measures 1 5/8 inches (4.1 cm) in diameter. The Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired the watch as a gift from J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917, and it is currently held within the museum's Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts. Documentation of the object relies on the holdings and records maintained by the museum.

View of the decorated case back of the pocket watch.
View of the decorated case back of the pocket watch. — 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
Pierre Le Roy
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1586
Source-reported date
ca. 1770–95
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

Physical Description and Materials

The object is identified as a pocket watch featuring a gold and enamel exterior. The visible portion of the case in the provided image displays extensive enamel decoration on the reverse side, arranged in a pattern of circular and geometric motifs. Central to the decorative panel is a circular medallion featuring floral imagery, surrounded by a band of contrasting enamel. The circular form of the watch is complemented by a gold pendant assembly at the top, which serves as the attachment point for a chain or fob.

The watch measures 1 5/8 inches (4.1 cm) in diameter, consistent with portable timekeepers of its era. The use of gold and enamel represents the materials recorded by the holding institution. The surface finish and application of enamel indicate the level of decorative detail applied to the exterior housing of the mechanism.

Evidence for this section
  • “Diameter: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm)”

Attribution and Historical Context

The watch is attributed to Pierre Le Roy, a prominent clockmaker based in Paris. Pierre Le Roy was the son of Julien Le Roy, who served as a clockmaker to Louis XV. Pierre succeeded his father in this role and contributed to advancements in horological precision, including developments in escapement technology and balance spring function. The watch is dated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the period of 1770 to 1795.

The provenance of the watch includes its entry into the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art as a gift from J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917. It is classified under the museum's Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts. While the watch is associated with Pierre Le Roy, the source notes that eighteenth-century French watches often involved the work of multiple craftsmen, where cases and movements were provided by different workshops, necessitating reliance on hallmarks and signatures for specific identification.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watchmaker: Pierre Le Roy (French, 1717–1785)”
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1586.”
  • “Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917.”

Documentation and Museum Records

The information presented regarding this object is derived from the records maintained by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum identifies the object simply as a watch, documenting its accession as 17.190.1586. The record provides the specific dimensions and materials confirmed by the museum's curatorial files. The attribution and dating reflect the museum's current assessment of the item.

The source acknowledges that the record relies on museum data and that verification of the wider collectible type requires additional consultation of standard horological references. No specific catalogue numbers beyond the accession number are provided, as these are only included when transcribed from standard, verified catalogues. The record serves as an individual entry for a specific museum holding rather than a general study of Le Roy's work.

Evidence for this section
  • “These details come from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's own record of this object”
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1586.”

Open research questions

  • What markings, such as hallmarks or makers' marks, are present on the interior of the case to identify the case maker?
  • Does the internal movement display a signature or serial number consistent with the period and attribution to Pierre Le Roy?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Pocket watch by Pierre Le Roy
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerPierre Le Roy“Watchmaker: Pierre Le Roy (French, 1717–1785)”
Dateca. 1770–95“ca. 1770–95”
CountryFrance, Paris“French, Paris”
MaterialsGold, enamel“Gold, enamel”
DimensionsDiameter: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm)“Diameter: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm)”
Accession Number17.190.1586“17.190.1586”
Credit LineGift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917“Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917.”

Visible details

  • The watch case features decorative enamel work.
  • The watch is fitted with a circular pendant loop.
  • The case back exhibits an ornate motif containing floral and linear elements.

Research qualifications

  • The source notes that in French production of this era, movements and cases were often supplied by different makers.
  • The exact production date remains approximate within a twenty-five-year range.

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

Consulted source

Watch by Pierre Le Roy, French, Paris, ca. 1770–95

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record eeba119758

Terms in this record

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

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