Lot 229

Richard Baker

A rare single-handed London double-cased verge pocket watch with day and night display and auxiliary seconds

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The silver Champlevé dial has retrograde Roman hours for night and day. In the upper half of the centre is a semi-circular opening showing the daytime hours with an engraved sun disc or the nighttime hours with an engraved moon and stars on an egraved disc, which revolves once every 24 hours. The sun and moon each have a tip that points to the respective hour. When the sun disappears on the right side of the display, the moon appears on the left. In the lower half of the dial is a small seconds dial - a challenge for the 18th-century watchmaker, who had to make precise adjustments to transfer the movements of the seconds hand from the movement to the separate dial.

Richard Baker originally apprenticed with John Chatfield of the Blacksmiths' Company, before changing to watchmaker Richard Browne in June 1683. In June 1685 mayor Baker was made a "Freeman of the Clockmakers". Richard Baker died circa 1700, but his widow continued the business until at least 1710.