By Martin Hardie
Collectors of watches, seals, jewellery, and knick-knacks in general must be constantly on their guard lest they mistake pinchbeck for pure gold. It is an alloy composed of three parts of zinc to four of copper. A recipe of the early years of last century says: "To make pinchbeck, put into a crucible 10 oz. of pure copper; when in a state of fusion add 8 oz. of zinc. These metals combine, forming an alloy not unlike jeweller's gold. Pour it into a mould of any shape. This alloy is used for inferior jewellery." The fused alloy assumes the colour of fine gold on cooling, exactly resembles gold in its ductility, and for some time preserves an unoxidised bright surface. Pinchbeck is a pleasant title, and dealers are very apt to apply the name to many objects, which on close examination are found to consist of gilded brass, often of a date anterior to the discovery of the alloy. It must be remembered, also, that many articles fashioned in this material received a washing of gold, and so pass readily for the genuine metal.
"Pinchbeck," like "silhouette." '' boule," and many other terms, takes its name from its inventor. Christopher Pinchbeck (1670-1732) was a worthy London citizen and clockmaker. who resided at St. George's-court, Clerkenwell, rebuilt in 1822, and now known as Albion-place. In 1721 he removed to Fleet Street, and in Applebee's Weekly Journal of July 18 of that year there appeared the following advertisement, surmounted by a woodcut representing an elaborate clock with several dials: "Notice is hereby given to Noblemen, Gentlemen, and others, that Chr. Pinchbeck. Inventor and Maker of the famous Astronomico-Musical Clocks, is removed from St. George's-court, St. James's Lane, to the sign of the Astronomico-Musical Clock in Fleet-street, near the Leg Tavern. He maketh and selleth Watches of all sorts and Clocks, as well for the exact Indication of Time only, as Astronomical, for showing the various Motions and Phenomena of planets and fixed stars, solving at sight several astronomical problems, besides all this a variety of Musical performances, and that to the greatest Nicety of Time and Tune with the usual graces; together with a wonderful imitation of several songs and Voices of an Aviary of Birds so natural that anyone who saw not the instrument would be persuaded that it were in Reality what it only represents. He makes Musical Automata or Instruments of themselves to play exceeding well on the Flute, Flaggelet or Organ, Setts of Country dances, Minuets, Jiggs, and the Opera Tunes, or the most perfect imitation of the Aviary of Birds above mentioned, fit for the Diversion of those in places where a musician is not at Hand. He makes also Organs performing of themselves Psalm Tunes with two, three, or more Voluntaries, very Convenient for Churches in remote Country Places where Organists cannot be had, or have sufficient Encouragement. And finally he mends Watches and Clocks in such sort that they will perform to an Exactness which possibly thro' a defect in finishing or other Accidents they formerly could not"
George Vertue, the famous engraver mentions a piece of work by Pinchbeck, "a fine and curious clock which with a small movement or touch could play many and various sorts of tunes, imitating many sorts of instruments, several birds, &c., the music being just, regular, and tuneable, and the time well observed.'' Pinchbeck was not above exhibiting these "astronomico-musical clocks" at fairs. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited his exhibition at Bartholomew Fair in 1729; and with Fawkes. a celebrated conjurer and juggler of the day, he had a united show at Southwark Fair. His stall was entitled the "Temple of the Muses," the "Grand Theatre of the Muses," or " Multum in Parvo." In the British Museum is a large broadside bearing the last title as its heading, with a blank left for place and date, evidently intended for use as a poster.
So far none of these contemporary documents have contained any specific reference to the material pinchbeck, though they show how ingenious and versatile its discoverer was. The invention of the material has been wrongly attributed to Christopher Pinchbeck, junior. That this is a mistake is proved by a handbill in the National Art Library, here reproduced. At the head is a portrait of Pinchbeck, reproducing on a small scale the better known mezzotint by J. Faber, after I. Whoud. The notice reads: "Pinchbeck Senr., Clock, Watchmaker, and Toyman, At Pinchbeck's Head in Fleet Street, And at Tunbridge Wells and the Court of Requests, only Maker of the True and Genuine Metal." There is a blank below for the date and any additional matter. It will be noticed that the name has now become so well known that the sign of the Astronomico-Musieal Clock has been changed to that of Pinchbeck's Head.
By the middle of the eighteenth century pinchbeck was in common use in England for watches, trinkets, personal ornaments, and every kind of small metal work. Most commonly, perhaps, it was employed for chatelaines and etuis, and frequently for miniature cases, buckles, clasps, snuff boxes, and so forth. Many of these articles are covered with embossed ornamentation, and are most delicately chased and engraved. "Toys" was the name in use during the eighteenth century for all the class of work to which pinchbeck was suited, and "Toyman," as Pinchbeck calls himself, by no means implies a maker of playthings in the ordinary sense. The metal soon gained popularity on the Continent, where it retained its English name or the nearest equivalent that the French tongue could attain. In a Paris advertisement of Jan. 10, 1765, we read: "Le 4 Janvier, on a perdu, dans la rue Saint-Antoine, unc montre d'argent de Le Roy, avec un cordon vert, un cachet et un coeur de pinsebeck ; on promet une honnete recompense a celui qui la remettra chez M. Boutet, notaire, rue Saint-Antoine." In another advertisement, a year or two later, there is mentioned the loss of " une petite montre de pinftbeck dore." As a further proof of Pinchbeck's world-wide reputation, there exists a contemporary letter, which states that " Mr. P. has finished a fine musical clock, said to be a most exquisite piece of workmanship, and worth about £1,500, which is to be sent to ye King of France (Louis XIV.), and a fine organ to ye great Mogul, worth £300." Christopher Pinchbeck, sen., died in 1732, at the age of sixty-two years, and was buried in St. Dunstan's Church, Fleet Street. The business passed into the hands of his elder son, Edward Pinchbeck, who on Nov. 27, 1732, notifies in the Daily Post that "the toys made of the late ingenious Mr. Pinchbeck's curious metal are now sold only by his son and sole executor, Mr. Edward Pinchbeck." The method of making the alloy had remained a secret in the family, and Edward Pinchbeck was much troubled by various imitations and counterfeits, which were sold as the true and original pinchbeck. This led to his insertion of a "Caution to the Public" in the Daily Post of Julv 9, 1733:
"To prevent for the future the gross Imposition that is daily put upon the Publik by a great Number of Shopkeepers, Hawkers, and Pedlars, in and about this town, Notice is hereby given, that the ingenious Mr. Edward Pinchbeck, at the Musical Clock in Fleet Street, does not dispose of one grain of his curious Metal, which so nearly resembles Gold in Colour, Smell, and Ductility, to any person whatsoever ; nor are the Toys made of the said Metal sold by any one person in England except himself; therefore Gentlemen are desired to beware of Impostors, who frequent Coffee Houses, and expose to Sale Toys pretended to be made of this Metal, which is a most notorious Imposition upon the Publick. And Gentlemen and Ladies may be accommodated by the said Mr. Pinchbeck with the following curious Toys, viz. : Sword Hilts, Hangers, Cane Heads, Whip Handles for Hunting, Spurs, Equipages, Watch Chains. Coat Buttons, Shirt Buttons, Knives and Forks, Spoons, Salvers, Tweezers for Men and Women, Snuff Boxes, Buckles for Ladies' Breasts, Stock Buckles, Shoe Buckles, Knee Buckles, Girdle Buckles, Stock Clasps, Necklaces, Corrals. And in particular Watches, plain and chased, in so curious a Manner as not to be distinguished by the nicest Eye from real Gold, and which are highly necessary for Gentlemen and Ladies when they travel; with several other fine Pieces of workmanship of any Sort, made by the best Hands. The said Mr. Pinchbeck likewise makes Astronomical and Musical Clocks; which new invented Machines are so artfully contrived as to perform on several Instruments great variety of fine Pieces of Musick, composed by the most celebrated Masters, with that Exactitude, and in so beautiful a Manner, that scarce any Hand can equal them. They likewise imitate the sweet Harmonv of Birds to so great a perfection as not to be distinguish'd from Nature itself. He also makes Repeating, and all other Sorts of Clocks and Watches ; particularly Watches of a new Invention, the Mechanism of which is so simple, and the Proportion so just, that they come nearer Truth than any others yet made. He also mends all Sorts of Clocks and Watches, Musical Machines, and Pieces of Machinery whatsoever, after so just a Manner, that they shall go well tho' they never did before."
The above advertisement shows the immense variety of articles which are available for the collector of eighteenth century pinchbeck. It should be added that a second son of old Pinchbeck, Christopher Pinchbeck Jnr. (1710-1783), carried on a similar business to his brother's in Cockspur Street. He was held in considerable esteem by George II., and one of his astronomical clocks is now at Buckingham Palace. In the London Evening Post, Nov. 19-21, 1792, a writer suggests that "if the Royal Society are not Scotchified enough to elect Sir W. Pringle their president, another of the King's friends is to be nominated–no less a person than the noted Pinchbeck, buckle and knick-knack maker to the King."
Our illustrations show typical articles made of pinchbeck ware. One is a watch of pinchbeck, whose case is pierced and engraved with foliage. There are also two outer cases of the same alloy. The smaller one is of similar work to the inner case, while the larger is covered with shagreen, pique in compartments, surrounded by rococo scrolls. The enamelled dial bears Turkish numerals, and the watch was probably made for use in Turkey. Another typical article is an ink-stand, measuring less than two inches in height and three in width. It contains a glass bottle for ink, another for sand, a pen in four sections, and a funnel, while at the bottom is a drawer, sliding out at the side. Both of these objects are in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Our fourth illustration shows some seals from the collection of Mr.H. Clifford Smith.
Source: The Collector - Volume 3 - 1907
Trev.