Skip to main content

Watch: PW.53-1923

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Maker: Tompion, Thomas

Entities

Categories

Description

Verge watch in tortoise-shell case.

MOVEMENT: Full plate movement engraved 'Tho Tompion 4329 London'. Balance cock with symmetrically pierced and engraved table, cherub engraved at neck, side scrolls forming ears. Foot pierced and engraved with thin edge. Brass balance. Pierced and engraved slide plate with uneven edge, silver regulation dial, with radial Arabic figures, 5 to 30. Pierced fusee iron post, tangent set-up under barrel, one lip on barrel. Polished steel case bolt with flat shaped foot, nib through dial. Potance, with moulding at end of foot, riveted to plate. Counter-potance with shaped foot riveted to plate. Pillar plate with four Egyptian pillars with very thing slots. Under dial '4329' stamped near centre, '02' scratched on joint. Fusee and chain, tangent set-up under barrel, barrel with one lip. Verge escapement with large escape' wheel. Train planted anti-clockwise.

BRASS EDGE: Wide moulded edge outside dial.

DIAL: Silver, narrow scroll outside and between 5 minute cushions with radial Arabic figures. Arched ladder minute ring, radial Roman chapters with gilt pins at half hours, inner circle. Hole in centre of dial filled with silver filigree plaque of a lion and unicorn supporting a plaque engraved 'TOMPION' and a central garter engraved 'HONI.SOIT.QUI.MAL.Y.PENSE' and standing on a decoration (centre removed by four intersecting holes). Blued steel backing disc.

HANDS: Blued steel beetle and poker.

CASE: Brass single case covered with tortoise-shell with single row of studs at edge of back and bezel, winding hole covered by brass disc. Inside of case scratched '-/-/3'.

Notes

History note: Unknown before S.G. Perceval (1838-1922)

Legal notes

Spencer George Perceval Bequest, 1922

Place(s) associated

  • London ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1922) by Perceval, Spencer George

Dating

18th Century
Circa 1710 CE - Circa 1750 CE

Components of the work

Movement composed of iron
Case composed of tortoise shell Diameter 52.25 mm Height 57.25 mm Thickness 31.5 mm
Movement, Dial composed of silver
Movement, Hands composed of steel
Movement, Case composed of brass (alloy)
Movement (back Plate) Diameter 39.25 mm
Movement (pillar Plate) Diameter 41.25 mm
Movement (brass Edge) Diameter 43 mm
Movement (pillar) Height 11 mm
Hands

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: 'Tho Tompion 4329 London'
  • Location: Movement
  • Method of creation: Engraved
  • Type: Maker's name
  • Text: 'HONI.SOIT.QUI.MAL.Y.PENSE'
  • Location: Dial
  • Method of creation: Engraved
  • Text: '-/-/3'
  • Location: Case
  • Method of creation: Scratched
  • Type: Mark

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: PW.53-1923
Primary reference Number: 207487
No.: 4329
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Wednesday 6 January 2016 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

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Watch" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/207487 Accessed: 2024-11-05 16:30:49

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/207487 |title=Watch |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-05 16:30:49|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-207487

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...