98th Auction
2018/11/10
Lot 265
Eduardus East, Londini, 32 x 21 mm 41 g, circa 1650
A one-handed, Renaissance pre-balance spring pendant watch in a rock crystal case, made by one of the most important of early English watchmakers
Case: lobed and faceted rock crystal cover and back, florally engraved gilt brass bezel. Dial: brass, firegilt, elaborately engraved, applied silver chapter ring, finely cut single iron hand. Movm.: firegilt brass full plate movement, gut/fusee, verge escapement, baluster movement pillars, blued click work, firegilt train, two-arm steel balance, pierced and florally engraved balance cock.
The hour dial is surrounded by a wreath of flowers and has black Roman numerals on a silver chapter ring; the centre is decorated with a bucolic scene with a jetty, and a mountain range in the background. The bright faceted rock crystal cover gives the viewer an illusion of ethereal flower heads.
The minimalist design of this timepiece has neither affected the quality of its individual parts nor interfered with the overall composition in any way.
Edward East was one of the most important early English makers. He was born in 1602 in Southill in Bedfordshire and started his apprenticeship with Richard Rogers in 1618. He worked in Pall Mall during the 1620s and was made one of the first Assistants of the Clockmakers' Company in 1632; he became a Master in 1653. In 1660 he succeeded David Ramsay as maker to the court of King Charles II. East donated 100 pounds to the Clockmakers' Company in October 1692 to support the poorer members of the Company. He died in 1697 at the considerable age of 92.
In December 2015 an oval pendant watch in a rock crystal case made by Edward East was sold for 75,000 pounds at Sotheby’s in London during the auction "The Celebration of the English Watch - Part I".
Provenance: Renowned private collection in Vienna
A one-handed, Renaissance pre-balance spring pendant watch in a rock crystal case, made by one of the most important of early English watchmakers
Case: lobed and faceted rock crystal cover and back, florally engraved gilt brass bezel. Dial: brass, firegilt, elaborately engraved, applied silver chapter ring, finely cut single iron hand. Movm.: firegilt brass full plate movement, gut/fusee, verge escapement, baluster movement pillars, blued click work, firegilt train, two-arm steel balance, pierced and florally engraved balance cock.
The hour dial is surrounded by a wreath of flowers and has black Roman numerals on a silver chapter ring; the centre is decorated with a bucolic scene with a jetty, and a mountain range in the background. The bright faceted rock crystal cover gives the viewer an illusion of ethereal flower heads.
The minimalist design of this timepiece has neither affected the quality of its individual parts nor interfered with the overall composition in any way.
Edward East was one of the most important early English makers. He was born in 1602 in Southill in Bedfordshire and started his apprenticeship with Richard Rogers in 1618. He worked in Pall Mall during the 1620s and was made one of the first Assistants of the Clockmakers' Company in 1632; he became a Master in 1653. In 1660 he succeeded David Ramsay as maker to the court of King Charles II. East donated 100 pounds to the Clockmakers' Company in October 1692 to support the poorer members of the Company. He died in 1697 at the considerable age of 92.
In December 2015 an oval pendant watch in a rock crystal case made by Edward East was sold for 75,000 pounds at Sotheby’s in London during the auction "The Celebration of the English Watch - Part I".
Provenance: Renowned private collection in Vienna
estimated
16.000—30.000 €
Price realized
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