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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Repeater watch

Repeater watch by Johann Wutky

Partially verified

This repeater watch is an horological object preserved in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is attributed to the watchmaker Johann Wutky, who was active circa 1690, with the object dated to the period circa 1675–80. The watch is associated with Austrian, Breslau (Wrocław) origin. The physical construction of the object utilizes multiple materials: the case is crafted from pierced and incised brass and features a silver dial. The internal movement incorporates brass, silver, and steel components, with the latter being partly blued. The watch has a recorded diameter of 1 3/4 inches (4.4 cm). As a repeater mechanism, it represents the technical developments of the late 17th century. The object is formally recorded under the museum accession number 17.190.1523 and was acquired as part of the Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917.

Front view of the Johann Wutky repeater watch showing the pierced and incised brass case.
Front view of the Johann Wutky repeater watch showing the pierced and incised brass 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 · Repeater watch
Maker / attribution
Johann Wutky
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1523
Source-reported date
ca. 1675–80
Source-reported place
Austrian, Breslau (Wrocław)

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 Aesthetic Construction

The watch case is constructed from brass that has been meticulously pierced and incised. The surface decoration displays a complex pattern of floral motifs arranged around a central vase element, flanked by avian figures. The design covers the visible surface of the case, indicating the level of ornamentation applied to the outer housing of the mechanism. The case is capped with a pendant and suspension ring at the top and a small decorative finial at the bottom, which is a characteristic configuration for watches of this period.

The materials chosen for the exterior demonstrate a focus on both decorative appeal and structural durability. The incised details are crisp and maintain their definition, contributing to the overall visual profile of the watch as viewed in the institutional photography.

Evidence for this section
  • “Case: pierced and incised brass, with silver dial”
  • “pierced and incised brass”

Movement and Dial Composition

The internal movement is constructed primarily of brass, complemented by steel parts that have been subjected to a bluing process. The incorporation of silver is noted in the movement as well as the dial. The mechanism functions as a repeater, a feature that allows the user to determine the time aurally. The complexity of these parts reflects the functional requirements of a repeater movement of the late 17th century.

The combination of brass, steel, and silver serves both functional and aesthetic purposes within the internal assembly. These elements are consistent with the materials recorded by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, supporting the technical description of the object's core components.

Evidence for this section
  • “Movement: brass; steel, partly blued; and silver”
  • “Repeater watch”

Provenance and Documentation

The object is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art under the accession number 17.190.1523. It entered the collection as part of the Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917. The records provided by the institution attribute the work to the watchmaker Johann Wutky and assign it to the Austrian region of Breslau (Wrocław), dated to the span of 1675–80.

This object remains a recorded specimen within a public institutional collection. Its identification is based on internal museum documentation, and while it serves as a reference point for the type, the specific attribution and date remain subject to general academic inquiry and specialist review regarding the wider corpus of 17th-century horology.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1523”
  • “Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”
  • “Watchmaker: Johann Wutky (ca. 1690)”

Open research questions

  • What specific repeater mechanism configuration is employed in this model?
  • Is there further archival evidence in Breslau to corroborate Wutky’s activity during the late 17th century?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Repeater watch by Johann Wutky
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerJohann Wutky“Watchmaker: Johann Wutky (ca. 1690)”
Dateca. 1675–80“ca. 1675–80”
Museum Number17.190.1523“17.190.1523”
Diameter4.4 cm“Diameter: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)”
MaterialsPierced and incised brass case, silver dial, brass and steel movement“Case: pierced and incised brass, with silver dial; Movement: brass; steel, partly blued; and silver”
OriginAustrian, Breslau (Wrocław)“Austrian, Breslau (Wrocław)”

Visible details

  • Case features intricate pierced and incised floral and avian motifs
  • Suspension ring attached to a top pendant
  • Bottom of the case features a finial
  • The dial and movement incorporate brass and silver elements

Research qualifications

  • The specific date and maker attribution rely on institutional records and may require further specialist verification
  • The classification of the object as a repeater watch rests upon the institution's stated description

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

Consulted source

Repeater watch, Johann Wutky, ca. 1675–80

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 3056c49fa4

Terms in this record

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