Gold Engraved and Enamelled Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1862-1863
This gold pocket watch is a collaborative horological work originating from London. It was manufactured by B. Lawley in 1862-1863, with the movement specifically inscribed as being made for W.
C. Shaw of Glasgow. The watch features an elaborate construction of engraved and enamelled gold. The case was produced by James Walter Stock of Clerkenwell, identified by the mark 'JWS', while the pendant is attributed to the maker Robert Bellows. The dial is decorated with an intricate scrollwork pattern in enamel, contrasted against an engine-turned metallic ground. The movement, housed within the gold case, is signed on the plate and bears the number 5075.
The piece is part of the V&A collection, donated by Mrs. S. G. Edmonds in memory of W. T. Simmonds.
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
- 1862-1863
- Type
- Pocket watch
- Maker
- B. Lawley
- Casemaker
- James Walter Stock
- Inscription
- Manufactured by B. Lawley, London, for W. C. Shaw, Glasgow
- Pendant maker
- Robert Bellows
- Place recorded
- London
- Maker / attribution
- B. Lawley
Design
- Visible features
- • Enamelled scrollwork dial design • Engine-turned decorative case back • Regulator scale marked 'FAST' and 'SLOW' • Movement signed 'Manufactured by B. Lawley, London, for W. C. Shaw'
- Movement and Inscriptions
- It is clearly inscribed with the name of the manufacturer, B. Lawley, and identifies the retailer or client for whom it was commissioned, W. C. Shaw of Glasgow. Mechanical components include a balanced cock with an adjustment scale marked for 'FAST' and 'SLOW' to allow the user or watchmaker to regulate the timing.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The watch is housed in an engraved and enamelled gold case that exhibits detailed surface work on both the exterior and the interior. The exterior back of the case features a dense, repeating geometric pattern of engine-turning, providing a uniform texture. The dial is a central point of the design, featuring a polychrome enamelled floral or foliate scrollwork motif against a metallic background, framed by Roman numerals for the hours. The construction involves multiple specialist hands. The casing is identified with the mark 'JWS', attributed to James Walter Stock of Clerkenwell, a specialist hub for watchmaking components in London during the 19th century.
- Provenance and Identification
- The object is held in the permanent collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum under accession number M.9&A-1986. The history of the object includes its acquisition through a gift from Mrs. S. G. Edmonds, presented in memory of W. T. Simmonds. This donation provides a record of its later possession before entering the museum's care. The technical details, including the London hallmarks, date the object precisely to the years 1862-1863. The provenance and the clearly marked components provide a definitive record of its manufacturing origins in the London trade, while the signature confirms its specific intent for the Glasgow market, illustrating the trade links between these two cities during the Victorian period.
Identification
- Serial number
- 5075
- Accession number
- M.9&A-1986
- 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: Potential for separate components (pendant vs case) not fully integrated into one makers' history
- Research required: Exact nature of the business relationship between Lawley and Shaw is not detailed