Pocket watch · Oval pocket watch
This silver watch, held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession 17.190.1481a, b), is dated to approximately 1637. The piece is attributed to the maker John Ramsay. Constructed from silver, the watch features an oval-shaped case, which was a common form for portable timepieces during the seventeenth century. The overall dimensions of the object are recorded as 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/4 inches (3.8 cm by 3.2 cm). As a horological artifact preserved within a museum context, it serves as a record of early mechanical timekeeping design. The watch includes both case and movement components, as indicated by the museum's dual accessioning. Research is required to further verify its attribution and historical context.
Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.
The watch is manufactured from silver and is presented in an oval case form.
The time is read via an hour chapter ring marked with Roman numerals, encircling the central artwork. An outer track provides further time-reading precision, served by a single hand that rotates around the central axis.
The object is part of the collection held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art under the department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts. It is identified by the accession number 17.190.1481a, b, which signifies the inclusion of the watch case and its associated movement as a single item within the museum's inventory.
Attribution of the piece is currently assigned to John Ramsay, with the museum dating the production to circa 1637. These details are derived from the institution's official online record. While the documentation provides a clear provenance from the perspective of museum inventory, further specialist investigation remains necessary to correlate this specific object with broader horological records of the era.
The record reflects the museum's focus on the decorative and mechanical aspects of European horology.
The current status of this record is supported by the museum's open-access data. No independent catalogue references have been established to verify its significance or rarity within the maker's known oeuvre. The watch is presented here as it is catalogued by the museum, acknowledging the requirement for ongoing academic research to define its position in the history of clockmaking.
| Field | Source-reported value | Source quotation |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | John Ramsay | “It is attributed to John Ramsay.” |
| Date | ca. 1637 | “The museum dates it ca. 1637.” |
| Material | Silver | “The museum records the medium as Silver” |
| Dimensions | 1 1/2 × 1 1/4 in. | “Overall: 1 1/2 × 1 1/4 in. (3.8 × 3.2 cm).” |
| Accession Number | 17.190.1481a, b | “Watch in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (accession 17.190.1481a, b)” |
Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.
Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.
