Watch and chatelaine with seals and key
Date1740-1741
Retailed by
Henry H. Fish
OriginEngland, London
MediumGold (24 and 20 karat); glass; enamel; lead; copper; steel; silver; pinchbeck; cornealian; chalcedony; diamond
DimensionsWatch: D: 2"; Chatelaine: L: 5 1/4"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1952-601,A
DescriptionPaircase watch; pinchbeck outer case with repousse scene of classical figures; gold inner case; dust cap; verge movement with pierced silver cock, diamond capstone, and squared baluster pillars. Pinchbeck chatelaine with repousse and pierced ornament and two pendants holding watch key and two seals. Survives with shaped, black shagreen case lined with red velvetLabel TextChatelaines were brooches or hooks suspended from the waist with pendants of useful implements, such as household keys, thimble cases, seals, watches, and the like. This chatelaine includes a watch, a watch key for winding the watch, and two seals for stamping the wax seal of a letter. The word chatelaine came to mean the mistress of a household.
Inscribed
Watchpaper in outer case: "All sorts of clocks and watches made and sold by Henry Fish at ye Dial ye South side of ye Royal Exchange, London."
MarkingsMarked "LC"
ProvenanceReginald Davis, Oxford, England
1750-1751
ca. 1780
ca. 1665
1784 (date letter on case)
1789 or 1809 (date letter on case)
18th century
1762-1763
Ca. 1770
18th century
