Watch with alarm

Nicholas Vallin

ca. 1600 · Case: gilded brass; movement: gilded brass, with an alarm train of iron · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

The son of the Flemish clockmaker John Vallin (ca. 1535–1603), Nicolas became the leading clock- and watchmaker in London. Both John and Nicolas emigrated to England, probably shortly before 1590 and undoubtedly as the result of political troubles in The Netherlands. Both father and son died in the London plague epidemic of 1603. The watch, which has a verge escapement, runs a little more than twenty-four hours per each winding, and originally it struck the hours in passing (a single blow on the bell at each hour).

Artist

Nicholas Vallin

Date

ca. 1600

Medium

Case: gilded brass; movement: gilded brass, with an alarm train of iron

Culture

British, London

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917