Noel Hubert Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
early 17th century
This early 17th-century watch was produced in France by the watchmaker Noel Hubert. The object is constructed from silver and gilt brass, featuring extensive engraving and piercing on its exterior surfaces.
The case measures approximately 7.4 cm in height, 5.2 cm in width, and 3.1 cm in depth. The provenance of the object is linked to the collection of the politician and art collector Ralph Bernal, who acquired numerous antiquities throughout his life. Following Bernal's death in 1855, his collection was auctioned, and the watch was purchased for the Museum of Ornamental Art at Marlborough House, which later became the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The design incorporates intricate decorative motifs and allegorical imagery engraved onto the metal surfaces of the watch case, consistent with its manufacturing 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
- early 17th century
- Type
- Pocket watch
- Maker
- Noel Hubert (watchmaker)
- Material
- engraved and pierced silver and gilt brass
- Signature
- Noel Hubert A Rouen
- Dimensions
- Height: 7.4 cm; Width: 5.2 cm; Depth: 3.1 cm
- Provenance
- Ralph Bernal collection
- Place recorded
- France
- Place of origin
- France
- Maker / attribution
- Noel Hubert
Design
- Visible features
- • Case features heavily engraved and pierced metalwork • Dial surface is engraved with landscape and architectural scenes • Signed with 'Noel Hubert A Rouen' • Single-hand time display on a dark metal chapter ring
- Marks and Inscriptions
- The inscription 'Noel Hubert A Rouen' is present, identifying the maker and the city of origin as Rouen, France. This signature is consistent with the attribution of the watch to 17th-century French production. No further serial numbers or additional maker marks are cited in the museum description, although the piece is catalogued specifically under its accession number, 2363-1855. The inscription remains the primary identifier of the piece's historical attribution and manufacture.
- Provenance and History
- This watch was part of the collection of Ralph Bernal (1783–1854), a British politician and collector. Bernal amassed a vast collection of decorative arts during his lifetime, which was later dispersed at a major auction in 1855 following his death. The items acquired from the Bernal collection, including this watch, subsequently moved to the South Kensington Museum, which eventually became the Victoria and Albert Museum. The source documentation identifies this object by the accession number 2363-1855, confirming its status as one of the pieces acquired during the initial acquisition of Bernal's collection.
- Construction and Design
- The watch is crafted from silver and gilt brass, materials frequently utilized in horological cases of its era. The exterior exhibits elaborate engraving and piercing techniques, characterized by ornate patterns and figural scenes. Visible in the photography, the dial plate is engraved with detailed landscape and architectural scenes that surround a dark circular chapter ring. A single hand is mounted at the center, indicating the time against the hour markers on the ring. The internal mechanisms, while partially obscured, are housed within the metal case, which also features an engraved hinged cover depicting various scenes, including allegorical or symbolic representations.
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: The exact year of manufacture within the early 17th century remains unverified
- Research required: The functional state of the movement is not documented in the source