Pocket Watch with Pierced Case and Chain
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca.1620; ca.1695
This horological object is a pocket watch comprising an early 17th-century case and a later 17th-century movement. The case, attributed to England circa 1600-1620, is constructed from pierced and engraved brass and includes a silver dial ring.
It is decorated with an engraved coat of arms belonging to the families of Stephens of Colchester and Arden, Essex, a grant dating to 1592. A cast gilt brass chain is attached to the case. The movement, which replaced the original, is the work of London maker Edmund Day and is dated to approximately 1695. The watch measures 5.3 cm in diameter with a height of 18.2 cm including the chain. The combination of early case work and a later replacement movement constitutes the current state of the object as catalogued by the V&A museum collection.
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
- Heraldry
- Stephens of Colchester and Arden
- Dimensions
- 18.2 cm height
- Date (Case)
- ca.1620
- Place recorded
- England
- Date (Movement)
- ca.1695
- Maker (Movement)
- Edmund Day
- Country of origin
- England
- Maker / attribution
- Edmund Day
Design
- Visible features
- • Case features extensive pierced and engraved scrolling floral patterns • Dial includes a silver ring with Roman numeral markers • Cast gilt brass chain is composed of repeated floral or foliate link units • Internal bridge is engraved with ornate scrollwork • Movement includes a regulator wheel with Arabic numerals
- Movement and Replacement
- The watch currently contains a movement produced by Edmund Day of London, which is dated to approximately 1695. This movement is not the original mechanism of the watch, but rather a replacement fitted at the end of the 17th century. The movement plate features intricate hand-engraved scrolling patterns across its surface, consistent with decorative practices for London-made pocket watches of this period. The mechanical assembly includes a visible balance cock and a regulatory dial with Arabic numerals.
- Attribution and Provenance
- Records for this object define its provenance through the combination of its disparate components. The case is cited as English and manufactured circa 1600–1620, while the movement is attributed to Edmund Day of London, circa 1695. These dates and attributions are maintained by the museum’s current documentation. The object is catalogued under the accession number 1137-1905, indicating its formal status within the collection. The physical descriptions provide a record of the object's construction materials, specifically noting the use of brass, gilt brass, and silver.
- Case Construction and Heraldry
- The object features a circular case crafted from brass that has been extensively pierced and engraved with decorative scrollwork. The front of the case allows for the visibility of the internal silver dial ring, which is marked with Roman numerals. The exterior of the case is distinguished by the inclusion of an engraved coat of arms associated with the Stephens family of Colchester and Arden, Essex, based on a grant issued in 1592. A cast gilt brass chain is attached to the upper section of the case, consistent with mid-to-late period accessories. The overall dimensions of the watch include a height of 18.2 cm and a depth of 3.8 cm, with a case diameter of 5.3 cm.
Identification
- Accession Number
- 1137-1905
- 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 provenance of the movement replacement in 1695 is not detailed
- Research required: The original maker of the case remains unidentified in current records