Lot 152

Benjamin Sidey

Chinese Market

A spectacular pair of pocket watches created in London for the Chinese market, with magnificent outer cases, almost entirely set with precious stones; with matching chatelaines

The outer cases, which are completely identical, are made of silver and are covered entirely with red spinels (ca. 8,50ct), large yellow/white topazes and synthetic green glass stones. The two inner gold cases are smooth and the firegilt verge movements feature beautiful English balance cocks. The two identical chatelaines are also firegilt.
All the movement parts, dials and hands are identical, as are the inner cases.
The watchmaker is likely to have been Benjamin Sidey Junior (c. 1711-c. 1797) of London, who added the suffix ‘jun.’ to his watches until the death of his father, Benjamin Sidey Senior (c. 1685–c. 1790).

Imperial China was at its height in the 18th century. Not only the wealthy imperial couple but prosperous merchants and civil servants too were affluent enough to afford high-priced luxury goods. They often bought watches, either to extend their own collections or to pay tribute to the emperor by presenting him with valuable gifts.
Europe recognized the burgeoning financial power in the Chinese society and, in addition to exporting the high value Swiss timepieces, the companies began to open their own branches in China. The growing trade with China has given rise to several legends, among other to one which says that it was Edouard Bovet (from the year 1825 the first of the Bovets; he had gone to China from London as the representative of an English firm), who convinced the Chinese to always buy pairs of identical watches in order to satisfy their penchant for symmetry and their love of ‘ouble existence’ The existence of pairs in all aspects of life also symbolizes cosmic wholeness.
In reality as early as the eighteenth century, watches were offered for sale in pairs, but more often than not the Chinese only bought one at that time, and in any case they never carried more than one at their belt. Collectors, it is true, liked to have the twin watches in one case, or see them hung in pairs on the walls of their appartments. The richly decorated watch cases always featured striking designs. The watches from British manufacturers were symmetrically arranged, while the Swiss watches were asymmetrical.