Traveling clock watch with alarm
Medium
Case and dial: silver; Movement: gilded brass, partly blued steel, silver
Dimensions
Overall (case): 5 3/4 × 4 × 2 in. (14.6 × 10.2 × 5.1 cm); Diameter (back plate): 3 1/4 in. (8.3 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
17.190.1512
Art Historical Context
Step into the intricate world of 17th British horology with this charming *Traveling clock watch with alarm*, crafted 1680 by renowned London clockmakers Thomas Tompion and Delander. Measuring a compact 5¾ × 4 × 2 inches, this portable timepiece was a marvel for affluent travelers, combining functionality with elegant design in an era when accurate timekeeping on the go was a luxury innovation. The silver case and dial encase a finely engineered movement of gilded brass, blued steel, and, showcasing the exquisite metalworking techniques of the time. Blued steel adds a poetic touch of color an...