Repeating watch
ca. 1765
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
Diameter: 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
17.190.1433a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of 18th British horology with Robert Thorne's *Repeating watch*, crafted around 1765 in London. This exquisite gold pocket watch, measuring just 1 3/4 inches in diameter, exemplifies the pinnacle of decorative arts during the Georgian era. As a "repeater," it chimes the time on demand—striking hours and quarters via a subtle push— a technological marvel that blended precision engineering with opulent design, making it a coveted accessory for the elite. Made entirely of gold, the watch showcases the superior craftsmanship of London makers like Thorne, whose work was...