Watch and Chatelaine
Object Type
During the 18th century, a fashionable woman wore from her belt a 'chatelaine', or, as it was then known, a 'chain' or 'equipage'. From the chatelaine might hang a range of different objects: a watch, seals, a box for a thimble, or an 'étui' containing sewing, writing or cosmetic implements.
People
William Hunt was apprenticed in 1709, and entered his mark at Goldsmiths' Hall, London, in 1725. He appears to have specialised in gold chatelaines and other small objects in gold, such as cane heads and boxes. Examples of these are shown in a magnificent Rococo trade card advertising the wares sold by William Hunt & Son in the 1750s. His son, James, was apprenticed to him in 1742, and registered his own mark in 1760. James also made chatelaines, and he supplied gold Freedom Boxes to the City of London
Design & Designing
On gold watchcases made in London, chased figure scenes were one of the most fashionable forms of decoration from about 1720 to 1770. At first the scenes were set inside symmetrical frames of scrolls, but under the influence of the High Rococo these frames often became asymmetric in the late 1730s.
During the 18th century, a fashionable woman wore from her belt a 'chatelaine', or, as it was then known, a 'chain' or 'equipage'. From the chatelaine might hang a range of different objects: a watch, seals, a box for a thimble, or an 'étui' containing sewing, writing or cosmetic implements.
People
William Hunt was apprenticed in 1709, and entered his mark at Goldsmiths' Hall, London, in 1725. He appears to have specialised in gold chatelaines and other small objects in gold, such as cane heads and boxes. Examples of these are shown in a magnificent Rococo trade card advertising the wares sold by William Hunt & Son in the 1750s. His son, James, was apprenticed to him in 1742, and registered his own mark in 1760. James also made chatelaines, and he supplied gold Freedom Boxes to the City of London
Design & Designing
On gold watchcases made in London, chased figure scenes were one of the most fashionable forms of decoration from about 1720 to 1770. At first the scenes were set inside symmetrical frames of scrolls, but under the influence of the High Rococo these frames often became asymmetric in the late 1730s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Gold and gilt metal, embossed, cast and chased; bloodstone egg, with enamelled mounts; rock crystal seal |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
Many English watch cases made after 1735 were decorated with pictorial scenes framed within asymmetrical C-scrolled borders. The subjects were often taken from Classical mythology, like Zephyr and Flora shown here.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Mrs K. E. Longman |
| Object history | Watch movement made in London by Nathaniel Adams, London, no. 1873; casemaker's mark 'EC'; chatelaine by 'WH', probably William Hunt (active in London about 1725-1760) |
| Production | Watch hallmarked for 1742-1743; seal 1810-1820 |
| Summary | Object Type During the 18th century, a fashionable woman wore from her belt a 'chatelaine', or, as it was then known, a 'chain' or 'equipage'. From the chatelaine might hang a range of different objects: a watch, seals, a box for a thimble, or an 'étui' containing sewing, writing or cosmetic implements. People William Hunt was apprenticed in 1709, and entered his mark at Goldsmiths' Hall, London, in 1725. He appears to have specialised in gold chatelaines and other small objects in gold, such as cane heads and boxes. Examples of these are shown in a magnificent Rococo trade card advertising the wares sold by William Hunt & Son in the 1750s. His son, James, was apprenticed to him in 1742, and registered his own mark in 1760. James also made chatelaines, and he supplied gold Freedom Boxes to the City of London Design & Designing On gold watchcases made in London, chased figure scenes were one of the most fashionable forms of decoration from about 1720 to 1770. At first the scenes were set inside symmetrical frames of scrolls, but under the influence of the High Rococo these frames often became asymmetric in the late 1730s. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.14:1 to 4-1992 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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