Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Thomas Windmills pocket watch

Partially verified

This silver and enamel pocket watch was made by the London-based watchmaker Thomas Windmills. The piece is dated to approximately 1710. The object is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art as accession number 17.190.1457a–c. The watch measures 2 1/4 inches (5.7 cm) in diameter. The exterior is characterized by enamel decoration on the case, while the dial features engraved Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minutes, with the maker's signature and location inscribed in a central decorative cartouche. Thomas Windmills was active as a maker from 1686 and served as master of the Clockmakers' Company between 1719 and 1732.

Front view of the pocket watch by Thomas Windmills showing the enamel-decorated case.
Front view of the pocket watch by Thomas Windmills showing the enamel-decorated 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 · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Thomas Windmills
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
17.190.1457a–c
Source-reported date
ca. 1710
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

Case and Dial

The exterior of this pocket watch features an enamel-decorated cover. The enamel depicts a portrait of a female figure, framed by a patterned silver border. The watch case measures 2 1/4 inches in diameter and is attributed to the London workshops active in the early 18th century.

The dial uses a clear layout with two distinct chapter rings. Roman numerals indicate the hours, while Arabic numerals set at five-minute intervals indicate the minutes. The central portion of the dial contains a decorative, scroll-work cartouche which bears the signature 'Windmills' and the location 'London' engraved directly onto the metal surface.

Evidence for this section
  • “Diameter: 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)”
  • “Silver, enamel”
  • “Watch made by Thomas Windmills (British, active 1686, Clockmakers' Company 1695, master 1719–32)”

Maker and Attribution

Thomas Windmills is identified as the maker of this horological object. Historical records indicate he was active as a watchmaker starting in 1686. He was affiliated with the Clockmakers' Company beginning in 1695 and eventually served as its master from 1719 until 1732.

The attribution of the watch is supported by the signature present on the dial and its documentation within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum records confirm the object as part of the gift of J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watchmaker: Thomas Windmills (British, active 1686, Clockmakers' Company 1695, master 1719–32)”
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”

Collection and Provenance

The watch is currently held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art under the department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts. It is catalogued under the object number 17.190.1457a–c.

The piece remains in the museum's care as part of the J. Pierpont Morgan collection. The current record notes that while the information reflects the museum's documentation, further independent horological research is required to verify the wider type and specific mechanical components.

Evidence for this section
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this object as 17.190.1457a–c”
  • “The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific movement type and escapement mechanism inside the 17.190.1457a–c case?
  • To what extent are the enamel components original to the early 18th-century construction of the watch?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Thomas Windmills pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerThomas Windmills“Watchmaker: Thomas Windmills (British, active 1686, Clockmakers' Company 1695, master 1719–32)”
Dateca. 1710“ca. 1710”
MaterialsSilver, enamel“Silver, enamel”
Dimensions2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)“Diameter: 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)”
Accession number17.190.1457a–c“17.190.1457a–c”
LocationLondon“British, London”

Visible details

  • Case features polychrome enamel portrait of a woman
  • Dial features separate chapters for hours and minutes
  • Maker's signature and location appear on a central engraved plaque
  • Includes a silver outer case or bezel with textured border

Research qualifications

  • Research required to confirm the wider type and full mechanical specifications
  • Museum records state materials as silver and enamel without further metallurgical detail

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

Consulted source

Watch by Thomas Windmills, British, London, ca. 1710

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record fc66042e89

Terms in this record

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

Other pocket watch records