The top part of the chatelaine has a long hook at the back by which it would have hung from the belt of a fashionable lady. The chatelaine has London hallmarks on the hook, so it can be dated precisely to 1755-6. There are three objects suspended from the chatelaine. In the middle is a watch, which bears the name of the watchmaker, Robert Cawley, Chester, movement no. 91. The watch and the small empty container or étui on the right are of approximately the same date as the chatelaine. To the left is a container or étui for snuff, which dates from about 1730. It contains a small gold spoon for ladling out the snuff and a 19th century watch key.
The chatelaine and the watchcase are decorated with figure scenes. On the chatelaine there are scenes from the life of King David as described in the Bible. On the watchcase is a scene of Angelica and Medoro carving their initials in a tree, taken from the epic Orlando Furioso by the Italian poet Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1533).
Physical description
Gold chatelaine from which are suspended a watch, an étui for snuff containing a spoon and a watchkey, and a further étui.
[chatelaine] Gold chatelaine from which are suspended two small étuis. The hook plate of the chatelaine is cast and chased with a scene of David playing his harp before Saul. The three pendent plaques are chased and embossed. The plaque immediately below the hook plate is chased and embossed with a trophy centred on the head of Goliath. On the middle plaque, Jonathan directs a small boy to search for arrows beyond him, the warning he had agreed with David, if Saul remained angry; on the bottom plaque are the bear and lion killed by David as a shepherd. The smaller of the two étuis is chased with putti and scrollwork. The snuff étui contains a gold spoon, and is chased in a different style with foliage, birds, shell and strapwork.
[spoon] Gold spoon
[watch key] Gold and steel watch key of tapering cylinder form, the head a circle containing the shaft which has a ratchet so the key can only be turned in one direction.
[watch] Plain gold inner watchcase containing a movement with verge escapement, square baluster pillars, pierced cock and solid foot (both with asymmetric engraved decoration), white enamel dial with black Roman hour numerals, black Arabic 5-60 minute numerals, and blued steel beetle and poker hands. Bow of gilt copper alloy.
[watch case] Gold outer watchcase chased and embossed with a scene of Angelica and Medoro within an asymmetric cartouche. He is to be seen carving her name into a tree. Chased and embossed shellwork, flowers and scrolls outside the cartouche and on the bezel.
Place of Origin
London, England (made)
Chester, United Kingdom (probably, sold)
Date
1755-1756 (made)
ca. 1730 (made)
19th century (made)
about 1755 (sold)
ca. 1750 (made)
Artist/maker
Cawley, Robert (movement)
Materials and Techniques
[chatelaine] Gold, cast, chased and embossed
[spoon] Gold, the bowl soldered to the stem
Marks and inscriptions
[chatelaine] 'EC'
[chatelaine] Leopard's head crowed, lion passant, date letter 'u'
[watch] 'Robt. Cawley 91 / Chester'
Dimensions
Length: 200 mm
[chatelaine] Height: 145 mm, Width: 58 mm hook plate, Depth: 15 mm
[spoon] Length: 36 mm, Width: 7 mm bowl, Depth: 2 mm
[watch key] Length: 26 mm, Width: 6 mm
[watch] Height: 60 mm, Width: 41 mm, Depth: 25 mm
[watch case] Width: 47 mm, Height: 46 mm, Depth: 20 mm
Object history note
Given to Mary Whiteley, architectural historian, the donor, by her mother, Marjorie Crake; possibly by descent from the family of the architect John Stewart (1791-1871), Lord Mayor of Liverpool, 1855-56.
[watch case] The watchcase contains a watchpaper advertising Wm. Edwards, watchmaker, Derby.
Descriptive line
Chatelaine, London, 1755, with watch by Robert Cawley, Chester, no. 91, a snuff étui containing a spoon and a watch key, and a further étui
Associated names
Edwards, William
Materials
Gold; Enamel; Glass; Brass; Steel; Copper alloy
Techniques
Engraving (incising); Casting; Enamelling; Chasing; Embossing; Soldering
Subjects depicted
David (King); Goliath; Saul; Angelica; Medoro
Categories
Metalwork; Jewellery; Accessories
Collection code
MET
