Lot 404

Fromanteel & Clarke

A collection of 4 silver verge pocket watches
A rare single-handed pair-cased London verge pocket watch with date indicator and alarm

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Unusual is the date display, which is located as a ring on the outer edge of the silver champlevé dial and not as usual in a small window. In the centre is a disc for setting the alarm, which rings the hour with a powerful and clear sound, emphasised by the openworked case around the edge.

With branches in London, Amsterdam and Newcastle, the Fromanteel family was the first international company for the production of timepieces.
Around 1680, Ahasuerus II. Fromanteel established a partnership with Christopher Clarke from Amsterdam, who would later become his son-in-law; the company was called "Fromanteel & Clarke". Fromanteel came from a family of renowned makers and worked in London as well as in Amsterdam. The partnership ended in 1703 with Fromanteel's death. Clarke continued the business in a new partnership with Fromanteel's younger brother Abraham, where they also used the "Fromanteel and Clarke" signature, without including their location.