Watch and chatelaine
Record status
Individual type · partial
This ensemble comprises a pocket watch and an elaborate chatelaine with attached decorative accessories. Crafted from gold and gilt metal, the chatelaine features embossed, cast, and chased openwork plaques linked vertically, supporting a watch below and two pendant items suspended on chains at either side. One accessory is an egg-shaped container formed of bloodstone with enamelled mounts, while the other is a rock crystal seal carved around 1810–1820 and engraved with a female head. The watch case displays chased pictorial decoration showing the classical mythological figures Zephyr and Flora enclosed within asymmetrical C-scrolled Rococo borders.
The gold chatelaine is fitted with a gilded metal hook and bears the maker's mark 'WH', attributed to William Hunt of London. The watchcase bears the mark 'EC'. The internal watch movement is a later replacement with a verge escapement; its top plate is engraved 'NT Adams 1873 / London', identifying it as made by Nathaniel Adams. Around the rim of the bloodstone egg's lid, a painted gold inscription reads: 'A SMILE FROM THEE : IS A WORLD TO ME ::'. The total height including the watch measures 18.4 cm, and the width of the watchcase is 4.8 cm.
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.
Historical context
During the 18th century, chatelaines—also termed chains or equipages—were worn suspended from a woman's belt, carrying useful and decorative items such as watches, seals, thimble cases, or étuis. Goldsmith William Hunt entered his mark in London in 1725, specialising in gold chatelaines and small gold items before working with his son, James Hunt. Between approximately 1720 and 1770, chased mythological and figural scenes set within increasingly asymmetrical Rococo scrollwork were popular decorative motifs on London-made gold watchcases.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Gold and gilt metal, embossed, cast and chased; bloodstone egg, with enamelled mounts; rock crystal seal
- Dimensions
- Height (including watch): 18.4 cm; Width (watchcase): 4.8 cm
Technical characteristics
- Inscriptions
- Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Research required; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: Painted in gold around the rim of the lid of the egg: 'A SMILE FROM THEE : IS A WORLD TO ME ::'; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Watch and chatelaine
- Museum object number
- M.14:1 to 4-1992
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.