Lot 103

Alexander Cumming

A historically interesting London pair-cased verge pocket watch

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Both cases bear the family crest of Scottish clan Mitchell with the motto: "Favente Deo supero" (With God's favour, I am superior), with the inner case additionally adorned with the exquisitely ornamented initials "AM", which probably refer to admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell (1757-1806), admiral in the Royal Navy and commander-in-chief of the North America and West Indies Station from 1802 until his death in 1806. He was the second son of Charles Mitchell of Baldridge, Dunfermline.

Alexander Cumming (1732-1814) was a celebrated Scottish maker of fine watches who lived in Edinburgh. He moved to London in 1777. In 1766 he had published a book entitled "The Elements of Clock and Watch Work". Cumming specialized in chronometers and was the first to suggest using curved teeth on a cylinder escape wheel. Cumming was also the inventor of the modern water closet.