96th Auction
2017/11/18
Lot 415
Timothy Williamson, London, Movement No. 2496, 63 mm, 181 g, circa 1785
An English small pair-cased coach watch with hour self strike, hour repeater and stoppable centre seconds for the Chinese market
Case: outer case - brass, gilt. Inner case - brass, gilt. Dial: enamel. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, chain/fusee, 1 barrel for striking train, verge escapement, three-arm steel balance.
The gilt open-work brass case is decorated with floral engraving and sits in an open-work outer case, which is embellished with scrolling and cartouches with rocailles; the front is studded with half-pearls and purple paste stones.
This formidable clock watch is a typical example of the timepieces that were produced for the Chinese market, which Williamson had excellent relations to.
Timothy Williamson was a trained goldsmith and it is likely that he created and engraved his distinctive cases all by himself. The movements, however, were probably supplied by William Hughes, a maker who Williamson had a close relationship with, as stated by Roger Smith in an article written for Antiquarian Horology (no. 5, Vol. 30, March 2008, p. 643).
Britten’s Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers lists Timothy Williamson as active in London from 1769 until 1788, first at Fleet Street and later at Great Russell Street.
An English small pair-cased coach watch with hour self strike, hour repeater and stoppable centre seconds for the Chinese market
Case: outer case - brass, gilt. Inner case - brass, gilt. Dial: enamel. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, chain/fusee, 1 barrel for striking train, verge escapement, three-arm steel balance.
The gilt open-work brass case is decorated with floral engraving and sits in an open-work outer case, which is embellished with scrolling and cartouches with rocailles; the front is studded with half-pearls and purple paste stones.
This formidable clock watch is a typical example of the timepieces that were produced for the Chinese market, which Williamson had excellent relations to.
Timothy Williamson was a trained goldsmith and it is likely that he created and engraved his distinctive cases all by himself. The movements, however, were probably supplied by William Hughes, a maker who Williamson had a close relationship with, as stated by Roger Smith in an article written for Antiquarian Horology (no. 5, Vol. 30, March 2008, p. 643).
Britten’s Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers lists Timothy Williamson as active in London from 1769 until 1788, first at Fleet Street and later at Great Russell Street.
Sold
estimated
2.500—5.000 €
Price realized
3.900 €