Silver Gilt
Pocket watches
The British Museum, London, UK
During my internship at the British Museum in graduate school I treated three late 18th-century French silver gilt and colored gold pocket watches from the Hull-Grundy Collection.
I slowly removed the tarnish layers with acidified thiourea (Hotel Silver Dip) applied with cotton swabs to avoid damaging the gold layer. Proper PPE was observed.
See below for more details of my treatment process.
Be sure to hover on some of the images to reveal the after treatment photos!
Marie Antoinette
Pocket Watch
Silver-gilt pocket watch with decoration in red, white, and yellow gold and silver around an enamel portrait of Marie Antionette, which is bordered with pavé-set diamonds and topped with a diamond-set crown. Bezel is surrounded by diamonds. Made by Francois Agéron, Paris, c. 1770-1780.
1978,1002.522
Cupid Pocket Watch
Silver-gilt pocket watch with decoration in red, white, and yellow gold and silver around an enamel depicting two women worshiping at the altar of love, which is personified as Cupid. Aix-en-Provence, c. 1780-1791.
1978,1002.523
Hunting Scene
Pocket Watch
Watch and pair-case. The outer case is in chased three-colour gold and silver with a dog and birds in foliage. Switzerland, c. late 18th century.
1978,1002.422 B
