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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Hunting-cased pocket watch

Waltham P.S. Bartlett Hunting Case Pocket Watch

Partially verified

This American Waltham pocket watch, produced circa 1897, is a size 18 timepiece housed in a hunting case. The watch is defined by its custom-painted dial, featuring a hand-painted depiction of a fox with three cubs, consistent with the hunting theme of the exterior case engravings. The gold-filled case measures 55 millimeters in diameter, with the reverse side showing a hound engraving and the front cover featuring a shield-shaped cartouche surrounded by scrollwork. The movement is a Waltham P.S. Bartlett model, featuring 17 jewels, adjusted status, and full-plate construction with damaskeening. It is a stem-wound, lever-set movement. The dial displays black Roman numerals and blue-toned steel hands. The piece remains in functional order according to the source.

Front view of the Waltham pocket watch with the hunting case cover open, showing the fox family miniature on the dial.
Front view of the Waltham pocket watch with the hunting case cover open, showing the fox family miniature on the dial. — Ashton-Blakey Antiques. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
zamanito.com
Category
Pocket watch · Hunting-cased pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Waltham
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
Source URL identifies the listing
Source-reported date
circa 1897
Source-reported place
United States

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 Exterior Design

The watch is presented in a size 18 hunting case manufactured with a gold-filled finish. The case measures 55 millimeters in diameter, a standard large size for American pocket watches of this era. It is decorated with intricate surface work, including a scene engraved on the back cover depicting a hound. The front cover incorporates a central cartouche shaped like a shield, left blank for potential owner personalization, surrounded by ornamental scrollwork designs.

The hunting case construction protects the dial while providing space for thematic engraving, which relates to the hunting motifs popular during the period of manufacture. The overall aesthetic is tied together by the exterior engraving and the thematic dial artwork.

Evidence for this section
  • “قاب هانتر (Hunting cased) در ابعاد بزرگ سایز ۱۸ تولید شده است”
  • “پشت قاب دارای حکاکی ظریفی از یک سگ شکاری (Hound) است و روی درب جلویی، کادری خالی به شکل سپر جهت حک احتمالی حروف اختصاصی مالک تعبیه شده که با نقوش اسلیمی احاطه شده است”

Movement and Technical Configuration

The internal mechanism is a P.S. Bartlett model movement, a specific production grade from the Waltham factory in Massachusetts. The movement is built with 17 jewels and is described as adjusted, indicating that it was calibrated to maintain timekeeping precision under varying conditions. The plate layout is a full-plate design, featuring damaskeening decorative finishes on the plates.

Operational control of the watch is achieved via a stem-winding mechanism, while the time is set using a lever-set system.

Evidence for this section
  • “موتور ساعت از مدل P.S. Bartlett بوده که دارای ۱۷ سنگ، تنظیم‌شده (Adjusted) و مجهز به پلیت کامل با تزئینات داماسکینگ است”
  • “کوک ساعت از طریق دسته (Stem Wind) و تنظیم عقربه‌ها با اهرم (Lever Set) انجام می‌شود.”

Dial and Artistic Customization

The most prominent visual feature of this timepiece is the custom-painted dial, which features a detailed scene of a mother fox and three cubs. The dial also utilizes standard black Roman numeral indices and blued steel hands to maintain legibility against the complex hand-painted artwork.

This practice of dial modification was documented during the late 19th century as a means for owners to customize their timepieces.

Evidence for this section
  • “بارزترین ویژگی این ساعت، صفحه آن است که سال‌ها پیش توسط یک هنرمند به صورت دستی با تصویری از یک روباه و سه توله‌اش نقاشی شده است”
  • “افزودن نقاشی سفارشی به صفحات ساعت در آن دوران و دهه‌های بعد، روشی برای شخصی‌سازی این آثار کلاسیک به شمار می‌رفت.”

Open research questions

  • Can the specific dial artist be identified through stylistic comparisons with other period custom-dial Waltham watches?
  • Does the internal movement serial number confirm a production date within the 1897 timeframe as attributed by the source?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Waltham P.S. Bartlett Hunting Case Pocket Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerWaltham“کمپانی نامدار آمریکایی والتهام (Waltham)”
ModelP.S. Bartlett“موتور ساعت از مدل P.S. Bartlett بوده”
Datecirca 1897“حدود ۱۸۹۷ میلادی”
Case MaterialGold Filled“بدنه ساعت از جنس روکش طلا (Gold Filled)”
Diameter55 mm“قطر ۵۵ میلی‌متر (معادل ۲ و ۱/۱۶ اینچ)”
Movement Specs17 Jewels, Adjusted“دارای ۱۷ سنگ، تنظیم‌شده (Adjusted)”
Winding/SettingStem Wind, Lever Set“کوک ساعت از طریق دسته (Stem Wind) و تنظیم عقربه‌ها با اهرم (Lever Set) انجام می‌شود.”

Visible details

  • Front cover features an unengraved shield-shaped cartouche for initials
  • Reverse cover depicts an engraved hound in a field setting
  • Dial displays a polychrome hand-painted scene of a fox family

Research qualifications

  • The identity of the artist who performed the dial painting is not provided
  • Service history and internal mechanical maintenance records are unavailable

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

Consulted source

ساعت جیبی هانتر Waltham مدل P.S. Bartlett با صفحه نقاشی دستی

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record ad4a70f672

Terms in this record

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

Other hunting-cased pocket watch records