Watch by Richard Barnes, Worcester, 1615-1620

V&A — Physical description

Case: oval gilt-brass and silver case with hinged lid and integral back. An applied silver band is engraved with foliate scrolls and reclining nude figures. The silver back is engraved with a depiction of Nebuchadnezzar Worshipping the Golden Idol above a label inscribed 'Daniel Capt'. Below the label is an area of foliage scrolls with an angel. Overall, a large gilt-brass rotating cover for the winding hole. The silver-lid has a gilt-brass hinge block engraved with a winged cherub's head. The main part of the lid is engraved with a depiction of Nebuachadnezzar and the Furnace, with a label inscribed 'Daniel Chapitre 3'. The lower portion decorated in a similar manner to the back. Cast and pierced gilt-brass trefoil pendant with loose ring. Turned gilt-brass finial. Dial and Hand: Gilt-brass dial engraved with foliate scrolls with a nude angel at the top holding fruits and also with fruits around the case catch. Applied silver chapter-ring with Roman hours I-XII and arrow-head half-hour marks within two circles. The central gilt-brass area is engraved with a depiction of Nebuchadnezzar with a dragon. Single blued-steel hand. The case catch was missing but was recessed into back of dial. Movement: oval gilt-brass plates with four baluster pillars. The back-plate engraved with a 3/4 foliate border with rabbits. Gilt-brass barrel with an upper and lower flange, dovetailed cap and riveted steel hook. The set-up for the mainstpring was originally ratchet and click with elaborately pierced click but is now lacking its wheel and has replacement click and spring. Gilt-brass fusee for gut line with standard stop-work. Three wheel train of gilt-brass wheels, the second and contrate with 3 crossings. Verge escapement, the crown wheel runs between a rivetted potence with hatched decoration on the visible side, and a counter potence which is screwed on, replacing the original which was rivitted. The balance is not original. Gilt-brass pierced and engraved foliate balance cock, pinned to a stud on the back-plate. The table now has a plain brass central area. Description by David Thompson, British Museum, 2005

V&A — Object history

Purchased at the auction by Christie's of the collection of Ralph Bernal (1783-1854), politician and art collector, in 1855. He held a seat in the House of Commons from 1815-52. After his death the Society of Arts proposed without success that the Government should buy his entire collection for the Museum of Ornamental Art then at Marlborough House which became the future South Kensington Museum, now the Victoria and Albert Museum. 730 lots were acquired for Marlborough House (Anthony Burton, Vision & Accident, V&A Publications, 1999, p. 34). After his father's death in 1811, Bernal inherited three large sugar estates and over 500 enslaved people in Jamaica. 'In 1835 and 1836 he was awarded compensation for slave ownership amounting to over £11,450' (Helen Davies, Ralph Bernal, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, version dated 11 March 2021)