Gilt metal watch dial by Jean Julien Faucherre
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1850-1880
This round watch dial, measuring 4.1 cm in diameter and 0.5 cm in depth, is constructed of gilt metal. It originated from the London workshop of the Swiss engraver Jean Julien Faucherre (1805-1891).
The dial remains in an unfinished state, characterized by the absence of painted numerals for timekeeping, though it features detailed decorative engraving. The central motif consists of a cluster of pansies and additional floral elements. This design is enclosed by a decorative border composed of stylized ribbons and further floral patterns. Its preservation provides insight into the output of a smaller supplier to the 19th-century horological industry.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- 1850-1880
- Type
- Watch dial
- Maker
- Faucherre, Jean Julien
- Technique
- Engraved gilt metal
- Dimensions
- 4.1 cm diameter
- Provenance
- Gift of Miss Jeanne Faucherre
- Place recorded
- London, England
- Place of origin
- London
- Maker / attribution
- Faucherre, Jean Julien
Design
- Visible features
- • Central engraved bouquet of pansies • Unfinished state with no hour numerals • Circular gilt metal disc • Peripheral ribbon and floral border
- Provenance and History
- The dial was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum as accession number M.10-2009. It forms part of a larger, documented collection of material salvaged from Faucherre’s professional life, which was donated by Miss Jeanne Faucherre. The preservation of this dial and its associated workshop materials allows for an examination of the tools and components created by specialist suppliers during the mid-to-late 19th century.
- Maker and Workshop Context
- Jean Julien Faucherre, born in Switzerland in 1805, established his workshop in London after working in France between 1830 and 1841. While documented as a master watch engraver in 1857, his production was varied, encompassing items such as electrotyped boxes and panels for carriage clocks alongside watch components. The archival nature of this object is linked to its inclusion in a broader group of materials from Faucherre's workshop. Historically, the output of such smaller suppliers was frequently anonymous, appearing in the market under the branding of larger contemporary silversmiths or horological retailers. This dial represents a rare survivor from a workshop that operated largely behind the scenes of the Victorian trade.
- Construction and Physical Characteristics
- The object is a circular watch dial manufactured from gilt metal, measuring 4.1 cm in diameter with a depth of 0.5 cm. The surface is decorated with an engraved motif centered on a bouquet of pansies, surrounded by other floral details. The entire central design is framed by an ornate border composed of ribbons and floral motifs, executed through fine engraving techniques. This state of completion provides a clear view of the decorative metalwork that would have been obscured or secondary to the timekeeping indices in a finished timepiece.
Identification
- Accession number
- M.10-2009
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The exact chronological placement within the 1850-1880 window is unconfirmed
- Research required: The intended final retailer remains unknown