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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Pocket watch · Pocket watch

Williamson pocket watch

Partially verified

The watch features a dark dial with Arabic numerals and a subsidiary seconds dial. It is presented with a black leather attachment and a T-bar, commonly used for securing a watch to a garment. The object is formally recorded as accession number S.758-1997 within the Victoria and Albert Museum collection. The watch is marked with the inscription 'LO Party'. Its historical significance is derived from its documented use as a costume accessory for the actor Laurence Olivier. It is associated with Olivier's performance as Shylock in the 1970 production of The Merchant of Venice and his role as John Tagg in the 1973 production of The Party at the National Theatre.

Side view of the Williamson pocket watch with the black leather attachment and accession number visible on the case rim.
Side view of the Williamson pocket watch with the black leather attachment and accession number visible on the case rim. — Victoria and Albert Museum. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collections.vam.ac.uk
Category
Pocket watch · Pocket watch
Maker / attribution
Williamson
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
S.758-1997
Source-reported date
1970
Source-reported place
Britain

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

Physical Configuration and Markings

The object is a pocket watch characterized by a simple, functional aesthetic suitable for stage use. The dial is dark in color, providing a contrast for the Arabic numerals and the subsidiary seconds register positioned at the bottom of the dial.

One of the most identifying features of the watch is the 'LO Party' inscription, which connects the item directly to its theatrical provenance. The watch is currently accompanied by a black leather attachment terminating in a small metallic T-bar, suggesting it was intended to be fastened to a buttonhole or garment pocket during performance.

Evidence for this section
  • “Watch, labelled 'LO Party', on black leather attachment”
  • “Marks and inscriptions: 'LO Party'”

Theatrical Provenance

The provenance of this watch is linked to the career of actor Laurence Olivier. The museum documentation states that the object was used as a costume accessory, specifically during the 1970 National Theatre production of The Merchant of Venice, in which Olivier played the character of Shylock. This pocket watch, attributed to the maker Williamson, is a British-made horological object dated to 1970.

Additionally, internal labels associated with the object indicate its presence in the 1973 production of The Party, where Olivier performed the role of John Tagg. The source notes that while the watch is definitely linked to these productions, the precise distribution of its use remains a subject of further research.

Evidence for this section
  • “This object was sold as an accessory used by Laurence Olivier as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice in 1970.”
  • “The label on the watch indicates that it was used by Olivier in the National Theatre's production of The Party in 1973. It is possible that the watch was used in both productions.”

Acquisition and Records

The watch entered the Victoria and Albert Museum collection as part of a larger group of theatrical items acquired in 1997. These items, identified as S.742 through S.810-1997, were sourced from a Royal National Theatre charity auction held in 1996 or were donated directly by the National Theatre prior to the auction.

This specific accession, S.758-1997, is categorized within the museum's theatrical costume and accessory records. The documentation preserves the link between the physical object, the specific productions, and the associated production teams, including directors Jonathan Miller and John Dexter.

Evidence for this section
  • “Costumes purchased at the Royal National Theatre charity auction in 1996, or donated by the National Theatre prior to the auction: S.742 - S.810-1997”
  • “Accession number: S.758-1997”

Open research questions

  • What is the specific model or caliber of the Williamson watch movement inside the case?
  • Does the 'LO' in the inscription definitively stand for Laurence Olivier, or is it a code related to the National Theatre's internal property management?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Williamson pocket watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerWilliamson“Maker: Williamson (makers)”
Date1970“Date: 1970”
Accession NumberS.758-1997“Accession number: S.758-1997”
InscriptionLO Party“Marks and inscriptions: 'LO Party'”
OriginBritain“Watch, Williamson, British, 1970”
Performance AssociationThe Merchant of Venice and The Party“This object was sold as an accessory used by Laurence Olivier as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice in 1970. The label on the watch indicates that it was used by Olivier in the National Theatre's production of The Party in 1973.”

Visible details

  • Dark dial with Arabic numeral hour markers
  • Subsidiary seconds dial at the 6 o'clock position
  • Black leather strap with a metallic T-bar attachment
  • Accession number S.758-1997 marked on the case side

Research qualifications

  • The exact extent of usage across two different theatrical productions remains speculative
  • The attribution of the manufacturer is limited to the museum's brief description

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

Consulted source

Watch

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record d318006298

Terms in this record

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

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