Pair-cased pocket watch with naval scene automaton dial
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1800
This pair-cased pocket watch, dated to circa 1800, features a white enamel dial with an offset Arabic hour ring set above a hand-painted naval scene. The dial illustrates British and French warships alongside a damaged vessel and a sinking ship.
An oval aperture at the lower portion reveals a revolving automaton disc that the source reports is painted with a ship and an early steam locomotive. According to the source, the mechanism is a 30-hour single-train gilt brass fusee movement with verge escapement and a Tompion-style regulator. The silver pair case bears London hallmarks for 1800–1801 and the incuse maker's mark 'WL'.
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
- Automaton pair-cased pocket watch
- Regulator
- Tompion-style regulator marked 1 2 3
- Dial Scene
- Painted naval engagement depicting British and French ships with an automaton aperture
- Dimensions
- 82 x 60 x 23 mm overall
- Case Hallmark
- London hallmark for 1800-1801 with maker's mark 'WL'
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Maker / attribution
- Anonymous; case maker possibly William Lewis
- Escapement and Movement Type
- Thirty-hour duration, single-train gilt brass four-pillar fusee movement with verge escapement
Design
- Visible features
- • Offset white enamel subdial with black Arabic numerals and small star or dot markings • Painted naval battle scene filling the lower half of the dial, depicting multiple sailing vessels flying ensigns • Oval automaton aperture positioned beneath the subdial displaying part of a toothed or decorated revolving disc • Central hand arbor is visible without hands installed • Metallic pair case fitted with a rounded pendant and stirrup-shaped bow at 12 o'clock
- Case Construction
- The object is housed in a silver pair case measuring 82 x 60 x 23 mm. The exterior features a circular, tall pendant (recorded as possibly nickel) with a stirrup-shaped bow situated at 12 o'clock. The case is hallmarked for London, 1800–1801, with an incuse maker’s mark 'WL'. Additional stamped characters 'C' and 'B' are present, and the inner case contains multiple numerical scratches.
- Movement and Mechanism
- The watch contains a thirty-hour, single-train, gilt brass four-pillar fusee movement with a verge escapement. The balance cock is pierced and engraved. The movement employs a Tompion-style regulator with a silver regulating disc marked '1 2 3'. A stop piece operates on the contrate wheel at 4 o'clock.
- Dial and Automaton Features
- The watch features a white enamel dial with an offset Arabic hour ring. The lower half displays a detailed naval scene, reported to include three British men of war, three French ships, one partly disabled ship, and one sinking ship. An oval aperture at the bottom of the dial reveals a revolving disc. The source states that this disc is painted with a ship and an early steam locomotive.
Identification
- Reference
- JEW0261
- 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 internal movement details, balance cock, and case hallmarks are source-reported and not visible in the dial view
- Research required: Source queries the attribution of maker's mark 'WL' to William Lewis