These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.
Download this imageCreative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.
Beethoven's Watch
Watchmaker:
Prior, George
Case maker:
Unknown
Watch in silver case, with key, and dark mauve leather case, the white silk interior of the lid printed in gold 'L. van Beethoven's/Taschenuhr'
Movement: full plate movement with barrel bridge engraved 'George Prior LONDON 29815'. Balance cock, table pierced and engraved, lyre above the neck, horn, music and axe in quiver. Blued steel end piece and diamond end stone, foot engraved. Polished steel balance. Slide plate engraved. Silver regulator dial with radial Arabic figures, 10, 20, and 30. Barrel bridge engraved as above. Solid formed fusee iron post with wings. Polished steel case bolt with conical end, in slot in plate, rib under dial. Potance with moulding at end of foot, screwed to plate. Pillar plate with four turned pillars with rib at end. Recessed centre wheel. L-shaped third wheel bar. Three dial feet holes not used. (Hinge block loose). Minute and hour wheel crossed out in 4. Fusee and chain, one lip on barrel, set-up click under dial. High number train, thrid and fourth pinions of 8. Cylinder escapement, brass wheel. Train planted clockwise.
Dial: White enamel on copper, counter enamel, three feet. Ladder minute ring, dots at 5 minutes, and thick bars at quarters, vertical Arabic chapters, plain centre.
Hands: Gold, arrow head and poker.
Case: Silver, double-backed consular case. Profiled plain bezel with bright cut silver ring under glass (reduces size of dial aperture). Back plain profiled edge, plain back, the inside stamped with maker's mark 'A' above 'TF' combined, all in oval, and incuse mark 'VP' (? not clearly stamped). Body, ribbed edge, front opening reduced in size by plain ring, movement hinged to ring, back plain with winding hole, inside with marks too rubbed to read, possibly maker's mark incuse 'VP'. Pendant stem slightly tapered, top bulbous, stirrup bow with bulbous ends.
Storage case: Dark mauve leather covered case (B) with blind tooling frame and design on lid, two catches (one catch missing). Inside of lid covered in white silk with 'L. van Beethoven's/Taschenuhr' in gilt lettering, base with recess for watch and trough for pendant and key, covered in deep mauve velvet.
Key: Cast brass key (A) with three holes in handle and swivel top.
Given by Ralph Griffin, MA
Method of acquisition: Given (1929-12-14) by Griffin, Ralph, MA
19th Century, Early#
Production date:
circa
AD 1800
The watch is said to have belonged to Beethoven (1770-1827). The maker could be George Prior of Prescot Street, London, who was working 1765-1810. The case is of a Continental design, and has been made specially for this movement. It may be as early as 1800. The movement is small for the case with a plain silver disc to close the case opening and support the movement, and a decorated band of silver fitted under the dial. All this suggests that the case was made to fit an existing movement.
Key
composed of
brass (alloy)
( cast)
Height 35 mm
Width 15 mm
Case Interior
composed of
velvet
( dark mauve)
Case
composed of
leather
( dark mauve)
Depth 21 mm
Depth 28 mm
Diameter 59.75 mm
Height 72.75 mm
Length 108 mm
Width 90 mm
Dial
composed of
enamel
( white)
copper
Diameter 42.5 mm
Movement
composed of
iron
steel
Hands
composed of
gold
Movement, Case
composed of
silver
Top Plate
Diameter 38.75 mm
Pillar Plate
Diameter 41 mm
Pillar
Height 4.5 mm
Storage Box
Inscription present: in oval
Accession number: M/P.1 & A & B-1929
Primary reference Number: 77467
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Beethoven's Watch" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/77467 Accessed: 2024-12-22 10:37:39
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/77467
|title=Beethoven's Watch
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-22 10:37:39|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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-77467
To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:
<div class="text-center">
<figure class="figure">
<img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa20/MP_1_20_26_20A_20_26_20B_1929_20_281_29.jpg"
alt="Beethoven's Watch"
class="img-fluid" />
<figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Beethoven's Watch</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...
