Watch dial by Thomas Batting
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1880
This watch dial, catalogued as accession number M.22-1932, is a horological component crafted in Coventry, England, circa 1880. Attributed to the maker Thomas Batting, the dial measures 4.2 cm in diameter.
It is constructed from gold and silver, featuring complex surface ornamentation that includes engraving, matting, and engine-turning. The dial includes a primary chapter ring with black Roman numerals for hour tracking, complemented by an inset subsidiary seconds dial located at the six o'clock position. The reverse side of the metal plate bears the engraved signature 'Ts Batting'.
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
- ca. 1880
- Type
- Dial
- Maker
- Thomas Batting
- Diameter
- 4.2 cm
- Materials
- Gold and silver
- Techniques
- Engraved, matted and engine-turned
- Inscriptions
- Ts Batting
- Place recorded
- England
- Place of origin
- Coventry
- Maker / attribution
- Thomas Batting
Design
- Visible features
- • Features a central guilloché-style engraved floral or foliate motif • Outer chapter ring is demarcated by a decorative beaded border • Subsidiary seconds dial is divided into ten-second intervals • Reverse side shows three visible mounting pins or screws
- Signatures and Marks
- The provenance and authorship of the component are established by an inscription found on the reverse side of the dial. The signature 'Ts Batting' is engraved directly into the metal surface, identifying the maker of the component. The reverse also shows the placement of three distinct mounting studs, which were utilized to secure the dial to the watch movement plate. The accession number M.22-1932 is present on the reverse, indicating its entry into the museum's holdings. This mark serves as the primary identifier for the object within the institutional register. The visibility of the maker's name on the back of the dial confirms the attribution to Thomas Batting.
- Condition and Context
- The dial exhibits the surface characteristics of a mid-to-late 19th-century component. The front face remains clear of major structural damage, maintaining the integrity of the Roman numeral indices and the subsidiary seconds track. The metal surfaces show minor variations in tone associated with the mix of gold and silver utilized in the construction. No further information regarding the original watch assembly is provided by the documentation.
- Construction and Design
- The watch dial is a circular plate composed of gold and silver. The visual design centers on a heavily decorated central field featuring engraved, matted, and engine-turned surfaces. A prominent floral or foliate pattern occupies the space within the chapter ring, surrounding the central aperture for the hour and minute hands. The outer perimeter of the main dial is defined by a decorative border of bead-like accents, which provides a frame for the Roman numeral chapter ring. At the six o'clock position, an inset subsidiary seconds dial is integrated into the primary plate. This sub-dial is finished with concentric engine-turning and features black-printed markings for individual seconds and ten-second increments.
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 specific watch caliber for which this dial was manufactured remains unrecorded
- Research required: Exact material composition proportions of the gold and silver mix are not detailed