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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Silver and enamel pocket watch

Partially verified

This pocket watch is attributed to the London-based watchmaker Thomas Wagstaffe (1724–1802). Documented as dating from approximately 1770 to 1790, the watch is held within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The object is constructed from silver, enamel, and diamond, with a recorded diameter of 2 1/8 inches (5.4 cm). The watch features a decorative, intricate outer casing and a dial with Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for five-minute intervals. The Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired the piece in 1917 as a gift from J. Pierpont Morgan. , though specific internal movement details beyond the exterior presentation are not provided in the primary source documentation. The watch is catalogued under the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department.

Front view of the silver and enamel pocket watch, showing the dial with Roman and Arabic numerals.
Front view of the silver and enamel pocket watch, showing the dial with Roman and Arabic numerals. — The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Thomas Wagstaffe
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1444a, b
Source-reported date
ca. 1770–90
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

Exterior Case and Construction

The watch is encased in a protective outer shell composed of silver, which has been worked into intricate, foliate, and scroll-like patterns. The surface exhibits a high degree of decorative metalwork, consistent with pocket watch production in the late eighteenth-century London market. The outer case includes a sturdy pendant and bow assembly.

The rear of the case displays a central circular plain field, surrounded by an elaborate frame of filigree ornamentation.

Evidence for this section
  • “Medium Silver, enamel, diamond”
  • “Diameter: 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm)”

Dial and Timekeeping

The dial of the watch is protected by an outer casing and features a clear white ground. The hours are marked with Roman numerals, while a secondary ring of Arabic numerals indicates five-minute increments, facilitating precise time reading. The hands are ornate, matching the period style suggested by the case construction.

It is integrated into the silver case, which acts as the primary structure for the horological components.

Evidence for this section
  • “Medium Silver, enamel, diamond”

Provenance and Documentation

This object is part of the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, having entered the institution via the gift of J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917. It is classified under the department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts and is recorded under the accession number 17.190.1444a, b.

The attribution to Thomas Wagstaffe, a British watchmaker active between 1724 and 1802, is supported by museum documentation. The dating is established as circa 1770 to 1790, which coincides with the final decades of the maker's career.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watchmaker: Thomas Wagstaffe (British, 1724–1802)”
  • “Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”
  • “17.190.1444a, b”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific type of movement (e.g., verge escapement) housed within the silver case?
  • Are there specific hallmark sequences inside the case back that confirm the silver assay date?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Silver and enamel pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerThomas Wagstaffe“Watchmaker: Thomas Wagstaffe (British, 1724–1802)”
Dateca. 1770–90“ca. 1770–90”
MaterialsSilver, enamel, diamond“Medium Silver, enamel, diamond”
Diameter2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm)“Diameter: 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm)”
Accession Number17.190.1444a, b“17.190.1444a, b”
OriginBritish, London“British, London”
Credit LineGift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917“Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”

Visible details

  • The case features elaborate scrollwork and filigree decoration
  • The dial displays a ring of Arabic numerals for minutes
  • A winding hole is visible on the rear of the case
  • The pendant and bow are simple in design

Research qualifications

  • The internal movement mechanism is not described or visible in the provided photos
  • Attribution relies on museum records which may be subject to future verification

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

Consulted source

Watch by Thomas Wagstaffe, British, London, ca. 1770–90

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record b753e84984

Terms in this record

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

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