Pair-case watch

Thomas Tompion|Nathanial Delander

1685–86 · Outer case: red tortoiseshell with silver inlay; Inner case and champlevé dial: silver · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Tompion, who was the first to number his watches, began to do so about 1682. The numbers referred to entries in his business ledgers and allowed him to keep track of the various components of a given watch. Unfortunately, none of his ledgers survives.

Artist

Thomas Tompion|Nathanial Delander

Date

1685–86

Medium

Outer case: red tortoiseshell with silver inlay; Inner case and champlevé dial: silver

Culture

British, London

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917