Calendar watch
ca. 1650
Medium
Outer case: leather-covered silver with silver piqué work; Inner case: silver; Movement: gilt brass, steel, partly blued, and silver
Dimensions
Diam. 1-3/4 in. (4.4 cm)
Classification
Horology
Culture
British, London
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.1470
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the intricate world of 17th British horology with Thomas Alcock's *Calendar Watch*, crafted around 1650 in London. petite timepiece, just 1-3/4 inches (4.4 cm) in, exemplifies the era's blend of scientific precision and artistic elegance. Alcock, a skilled London watchmaker, created a functional marvel that not only told time but also tracked the calendar— a sophisticated feature for an age when accurate timekeeping was revolutionizing navigation, science, and daily life amid England's turbulent Civil War period. The watch's dual cases showcase exquisite craftsmanship: the outer one...