91st Auction
2015/5/16
Lot 75
Thomas Hows (Howes) Fecit, Pope's Head Alley, London, 47 x 39 mm, 79 g, circa 1640
A rare oval puritan single hand pre-balance spring verge pocket watch, period of Charles I
Case: silver, polished, seven-piece hinge, ring pendant. Dial: silver, engraved and blackened radial Roman numerals, single blued steel hand. Movm.: full plate movement, firegilt, signed, baluster-shaped movement pillars, gut/fusee, plain steel two-armed pre-hairspring balance, finely chased and pierced floral decorated balance cock, top lock with blued click work.
Thomas Howes was a member of the Clockmakers‘ Company from 1632 to 1642. He died before 1655.
Because of its simple appearance that is supposed to be in character with Puritan austerity, this watch is an excellent example of the so-called "Puritan" watch style.
The Puritan movement was at its most powerful during the 17th century. In 1640 Oliver Cromwell became a member of the Long Parliament and a leader of the opposition against King Charles I and the absolute monarchy. The dispute developed into the English Civil War, where Cromwell commanded the parliamentary troops and led them against the royal army. Eventually the Puritan army triumphed but not without frequently ransacking the country and the churches. King Charles I was tried on a charge of treason and executed; Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector, effectively overseeing a military dictatorship. However, the intolerance of the Puritans was extremely unpopular among the people and after Cromwell’s death in 1658 the monarchy was reinstated - King Charles II came into power.
Source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puritanismus, as of 02/15/2015
A rare oval puritan single hand pre-balance spring verge pocket watch, period of Charles I
Case: silver, polished, seven-piece hinge, ring pendant. Dial: silver, engraved and blackened radial Roman numerals, single blued steel hand. Movm.: full plate movement, firegilt, signed, baluster-shaped movement pillars, gut/fusee, plain steel two-armed pre-hairspring balance, finely chased and pierced floral decorated balance cock, top lock with blued click work.
Thomas Howes was a member of the Clockmakers‘ Company from 1632 to 1642. He died before 1655.
Because of its simple appearance that is supposed to be in character with Puritan austerity, this watch is an excellent example of the so-called "Puritan" watch style.
The Puritan movement was at its most powerful during the 17th century. In 1640 Oliver Cromwell became a member of the Long Parliament and a leader of the opposition against King Charles I and the absolute monarchy. The dispute developed into the English Civil War, where Cromwell commanded the parliamentary troops and led them against the royal army. Eventually the Puritan army triumphed but not without frequently ransacking the country and the churches. King Charles I was tried on a charge of treason and executed; Cromwell ruled as Lord Protector, effectively overseeing a military dictatorship. However, the intolerance of the Puritans was extremely unpopular among the people and after Cromwell’s death in 1658 the monarchy was reinstated - King Charles II came into power.
Source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puritanismus, as of 02/15/2015
Sold
estimated
10.000—15.000 €
Price realized
11.200 €