Current Location: In storage
Maker(s)
Maker:
Decharmes, Simon
Entities
Categories
Description
Verge watch in copper case.
MOVEMENT: Full plate movement engraved 'Descharmes LONDON 1718'. Balance cock with table pierced and engraved, including two birds, mask at neck, foot pierced and engraved with thin edge. Brass balance. Pierced and engraved slide plate, large silver regulation dial with engraved radial Arabic figures 5 to 30. Pierced fusee iron post. Case spring with decorated flat foot, nib through dial. Potance with foot, triangular counter-potance, both riveted to plate. Pillar plate with four Egyptian pillars. Under dial scratched 'P. Tournero', 'Puseldors' (?) and 'Hoirwro' (?) Fusee and chain, tangent set-up under barrel, barrel with one lip. Verge escapement. Train planted anti-clockwise.
BRASS EDGE: Gilt, three feet, date ring under dial driven from four pin pinion on 'split' fusee arbour. Intermediate wheel missing.
DIAL: Silver champleve. Radial Arabic 5 minute figures on polished cushions, ladder minute ring, radial Roman chapters with spire head 1/2 hour marks. Separate sunk dial centre with two winged cherubs above, and below, in cartouche, engraved 'DeCharmes LO ON' with hole to view date ring between 'LO' and 'ON'. This appears to be an afterthought, as the hole for reading it has been cut, after engraving, through the maker's name on the little tablet below the centre of the dial. However, this may be intentional.
HAND: Blued steel beetle hour only. Replacement as boss cut.
CASE: Copper case in general form of the outer case of an 18th century pair cased watch, with late 18th century pendant. The watch movement fitted in the front with no glass or bezel over the dial.
SEALS (A): Three associated seals:
1) Cut steel swivel seal, vase on one side and profile of man on other.
2) Steel seal, cut with profile of man and crude initials 'P A'.
3) Steel bed hook pivoted in plain steel case.
Notes
History note: Unknown before S.G. Perceval (1838-1922)
Legal notes
Spencer George Perceval Bequest, 1922
Components of the work
Movement
composed of
iron
brass (alloy)
Brass Edge
composed of
gilt
Case
composed of
copper
Diameter 62 mm
Height 74 mm
Thickness 36.5 mm
Movement, Dial
composed of
silver
Hour Hand
composed of
steel
Movement (back Plate)
Diameter 39.75 mm
Movement (pillar Plate)
Diameter 41.5 mm
Movement (brass Edge)
Diameter 43.75 mm
Movement (pillar)
Height 9.25 mm
Dial
Inscription or legends present
- Text: 'Descharmes LONDON 1718'
- Location: Movement
- Method of creation: Engraved
- Type: Maker's name
- Text: 'P. Tournero', 'Puseldors' (?) and 'Hoirwro' (?)
- Location: Movement
- Method of creation: Scratched
- Type: Mark
References and bibliographic entries
Identification numbers
Accession number: PW.40 & A-1923
Primary reference Number: 207309
Stable URI
Audit data
Created: Thursday 10 December 2015
Updated: Wednesday 28 March 2018
Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
