Litherland Davies & Co. Gold Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1815-16
This gold pocket watch was manufactured in Liverpool, with the movement produced by Litherland Davies & Co. and the case by Thomas Helsby. It is constructed from cast and chased gold, featuring a gold dial with an engine-turned center and Roman numeral hour markers.
The watch is signed 'Litherland Davies & Co., Liverpool' alongside the serial number 8463 on the movement. It incorporates Chester hallmarks corresponding to the 1815-16 period. The internal casing exhibits the maker's mark 'TH' for Thomas Helsby. The movement includes a lever escapement, as indicated by the engraving on the plates. Its dimensions are 5.4 cm in height, 4.6 cm in width, and 2.4 cm in depth. The object is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum collection, having been bequeathed by Mr.
H. A. Hance.
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
- Type
- Pocket watch
- Maker
- Litherland Davies & Co.
- Casemaker
- Thomas Helsby
- Hallmarks
- Chester 1815-16
- Dimensions
- 5.4 cm x 4.6 cm x 2.4 cm
- Serial Number
- 8463
- Place recorded
- Liverpool
- Place of Origin
- Liverpool
- Maker / attribution
- Litherland Davies & Co.
Design
- Visible features
- • Cast and chased gold case exterior with floral pattern • Roman numeral hour track on a gold engine-turned dial • Movement signed 'Litherland Davies & Co., Liverpool' with serial number 8463 • Engraved text 'Patent' and 'Detached Lever' on the movement plates
- Signatures and Marks
- The watch is marked for both the watchmaker and the casemaker. The movement carries the signature 'Litherland Davies & Co., Liverpool' followed by the serial number 8463. The inner case back bears the casemaker's mark 'TH', attributed to Thomas Helsby, accompanied by a set of Chester assay hallmarks. There is a discrepancy in the provided documentation regarding the hallmarks, which are cited in one instance as 1815-16 and in the physical description as 1837-38. The serial number 8463 appears both on the movement and stamped within the case, though the text occasionally refers to 8468.
- Construction and Design
- The pocket watch features a gold case that has been cast and chased with decorative details. The exterior of the case shows a dense, foliate relief pattern across the band. The dial is also fashioned from gold and incorporates an engine-turned, guilloché-style pattern within the central area, surrounded by a chapter ring featuring Roman numerals for the hours. The watch movement, signed by Litherland Davies & Co., Liverpool, displays internal engraving indicating the use of a detached lever escapement.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The object is catalogued by the Victoria and Albert Museum under the accession number M.1111-1927. The provenance of the piece is linked to the estate of Mr. H. A. Hance, by whom it was bequeathed to the institution. The record provides detailed measurements of the watch, noting a height of 5.4 cm and a width of 4.6 cm. Despite the specific dimensions and maker information provided in the V&A records, the internal contradictions regarding the dating and serial numbering remain as part of the museum's documented descriptive history.
Identification
- Serial number
- 8463
- Accession Number
- M.1111-1927
- 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 V&A physical description contains a conflicting date of 1837-38 for the hallmarks, while the primary record states 1815-16.
- Research required: The movement serial number is recorded as 8463 in both the description and on the plates, while the source text contains a conflicting mention of 8468.