Lot 81

Thomas Tompion

A pair-cased quarter repeating verge pocket watch in museum quality, from the most famous of all English watchmakers, with repoussé outer case

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The exquisite repoussé detail on the back of the outer case shows the famous Greek mythology scene "The judgement of Paris": The young Paris is to decide, who of the three goddesses is the most beautiful: Aphrodite, Athena or Hera. The inner case is elaborately decorated with lavish foliage work, birds’ heads and boar-riding monkeys; together with the openwork outer bezel it allows a clear and strong tone. The gold Champlevé dial is decorated with concentric circles and has enamel Roman numerals and Arabic minutes on the outer ring as well as blued "Poker & Beetle" hands. A central cartouche is signed "London". The exquisitely ornamented movement is protected by a signed and numbered protection cap and features a verge escapement and a brass balance with finely engraved floral motif on the balance cock. A pair of polished steel hammers strike hours and quarters on a bell.

Without doubt Thomas Tompion (1637-1713) must be considered the most famous of all English clockmakers; in the 18th century he alone was responsible for the rise to supremacy of English clockmaking. He became a brother of the Clockmakers' Company in 1671 and moved 1674 to a workshop in Water Lane, from where he conducted his business for the rest of his life. In the very same year Tompion met Robert Hooke, when Hooke sought his help in proving that his invention of the balance spring was prior to that of Huygens'. This brought Tompion to the notice of King Charles II and his status was rapidly elevated. Tompion created the first clock for the Greenwich Observatory in 1676 and collaborated with Booth and Houghton in 1695 in patenting an escapement with a horizontal escape wheel, which was considered to be a forerunner of the cylinder. Buckingham Palace today holds two equation clocks which were probably supplied to William III in the 1690's. Some time between 1680 and 1685, Tompion started to number his production, apparently being the first maker to do this. He was elected Master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1703.Tompion's niece Margaret was the daughter of his sister Margaret Kent; she married the watchmaker Edward Banger, who worked with Tompion from 1701 to 1708. In 1711 Tompion formed a partnership with George Graham that lasted until the end of his life. Thomas Tompion died in 1713 and was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey.