Gold watch with enamel plaque by Vulliamy
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca.1777
This gold pocket watch is attributed to the London-based watchmaker Justin Vulliamy. Dating to approximately 1777, the timepiece is housed in a gold case featuring the mark 'PM', identified as the casemaker Peter Mounier.
A distinct feature of the watch is the enamel plaque mounted in the middle case, which is signed and dated 1777 by the Geneva-based artist Pierre François Marcinhès. The plaque displays an enamelled scene adapted from an artwork by Sir Joshua Reynolds, specifically the depiction of Miss Morris as 'Hope Nursing Love', which was originally exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1769. The watch incorporates decorative diamond elements.
The internal movement is signed 'Justin Vulliamy, London, uin'. The physical dimensions of the object are recorded as 7.1 cm in height, 5.5 cm in width, and 2.5 cm in depth, documenting a collaboration between horological and artistic specialists of the period.
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
- ca.1777
- Type
- Pocket watch
- Maker
- Justin Vulliamy, London
- Casemaker
- Peter Mounier
- Materials
- Gold, diamonds, enamel
- Dimensions
- 7.1 cm x 5.5 cm x 2.5 cm
- Iconography
- Hope Nursing Love (after Sir Joshua Reynolds)
- Enamel Artist
- Pierre François Marcinhès
- Place recorded
- London
- Place of origin
- London
- Maker / attribution
- Vulliamy & Son
Design
- Visible features
- • Blue enamel border with scrollwork • Enamel plaque depicting a figure • Diamonds set around the plaque and on the pendant • 'PM' mark stamped on internal case
- Case and Enamel Work
- The watch case is constructed from gold and heavily decorated with diamonds, which are set around the central enamel plaque and adorn the pendant bow. A striking element of the exterior design is the blue enamel border featuring intricate gold scrollwork, providing a contrast to the central figurative panel. The central plaque, signed and dated 1777 by Pierre François Marcinhès of Geneva, provides the primary visual focus for the object. The enamel painting is a direct adaptation of a scene from the artist Sir Joshua Reynolds, illustrating Miss Morris in the character of 'Hope Nursing Love', a work that had been previously displayed at the Royal Academy in 1769.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The object is currently held within the V&A collection under the accession number LOAN:BARCLAYS BANK.2, indicating it is on loan to the institution. The documentation provided confirms the materials used as gold, diamonds, and enamel, and establishes the dimensions for the watch, which stands 7.1 cm tall. The records trace the object back to its 18th-century origins, citing the specific Royal Academy exhibition of 1769 as the source of the artistic inspiration for the plaque.
- Signatures and Identifications
- The object displays signatures associated with both its horological production and its decorative assembly. The watch movement bears the signature 'Justin Vulliamy, London, uin', placing the technical production within this London workshop. The case itself contains the punch mark 'PM', which is identified in the provenance as the mark of the London casemaker Peter Mounier. The enamel plaque serves as a third point of identification, carrying both the signature of the artist Pierre François Marcinhès and the date 1777. These marks collectively associate the finished timepiece with three distinct specialists: Vulliamy for the watchmaking, Mounier for the case construction, and Marcinhès for the decorative enamel work.
Identification
- 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: Uncertain extent of original vs later decorative modifications
- Research required: The specific nature of the 'uin' inscription on the movement remains unexplained