Matthias Currie Pocket Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1868
This gentleman's open-face pocket watch was produced by maker Matthias Currie of Greenock, Scotland, around 1868. The watch is housed in a silver case and features a white enamel dial with black Roman numerals for the hours and a subsidiary seconds dial positioned at the six o'clock mark.
The watch employs a key-wound spring mechanism and a lever escapement. A removable dust cover over the movement is cut away to expose jewels and the bridge. The piece is inscribed with the serial number 11453 on both the back plate and inside the case. Additionally, an inscription on the outside of the inner case reads 'A. McIntyre, Myrniong, Vic', indicating the owner. The case bears hallmarks corresponding to London, 1867-1868, including the lion, leopard, and a small gothic 'm'.
The watch entered the museum collection via a donation from A. McIntyre in 1961.
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
- Dial
- White enamel
- Type
- Open-face key-wound pocket watch
- Maker
- Matthias Currie
- Hallmarks
- London 1867-1868
- Escapement
- Lever
- Inscription
- A. McIntyre, Myrniong, Vic
- Serial Number
- 11453
- Place recorded
- Scotland
- Maker / attribution
- Matthias Currie
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch features a silver open-face case. The exterior dial is composed of white enamel, displaying Roman numerals to denote the hours. A subsidiary seconds dial is integrated into the primary dial at the six o'clock position. The case is equipped with a hook at the top, contributing to its overall length measurement of 75 mm. The silver case includes specific markings indicating its origins and testing. The interior of the case is struck with a London hallmark corresponding to the 1867-1868 period, which includes the lion passant, the uncrowned leopard head, and a small gothic 'm'. The maker's mark 'J.S.' is also present within the case.
- Visible features
- • White enamel dial with Roman numeral hour markers • Subsidiary seconds dial located at six o'clock • Presence of a suspension bow at the top of the case
- Movement and Mechanism
- The timepiece is driven by a key-wound spring mechanism. The power is regulated by a lever escapement. Access to the movement is provided under a removable dust cover. The dust cover is designed with a cut-away section. This allows for the observation of the bridge and the movement's jewels without full exposure of the internal components. The back plate of the movement is inscribed with the maker's name and location, as well as the serial number 11453.
- Provenance and Documentation
- The watch is associated with the maker Matthias Currie, who operated from 11 Cross Shore Street in Greenock, Scotland, during 1868. This association is documented through historical references to Scottish clock and watchmakers from that era. The watch came into the possession of the museum through a donation from A. McIntyre in December 1961. The object carries an inscription on the inner case identifying a former owner, 'A. McIntyre, Myrniong, Vic'.
Identification
- Serial number
- 11453
- Accession Number
- ST 25179
- 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 source attributes the watch to Currie, who was active at 11 Cross Shore St in 1868, but does not specify if he was the manufacturer or the retailer.
- Research required: The precise role of the mark 'J.S.' inside the case is not definitively identified in the provided documentation.