Lot 86

Francis Perigal, Royal Exchange, London, Movement No. 19391, Case No. 19391, 52 mm, 163 g, circa 1788
A pair-cased gold enamel pocket watch with centre seconds, hour strike and hour repeater of museum quality, studded with split pearls and rubies - made for the Chinese market
Case: outer case - 18K gold, polychrome enamel, split pearls, rubies. Inner case - 18K gold, the back engraved with flowers over a hatched ground, the band pierced and engraved with foliage, signed and numbered movement protection cap, rear bell. Dial: enamel. Movm.: full plate movement, chain/fusee, cylinder escapement, three-arm steel balance.
A lavishly embellished piece for the Chinese market - both bezels of the outer case are studded with alternating split pearls and rubies and the back features a bright cobalt blue enamel medallion over engine-turned ground. The engine-turned design is striking - in addition to the radial pattern it shows a bird with spread wings and open beak, sitting on a vase. The band is pierced and ornamented with white Champlevé flowers.
Francis Perigal was active from about 1770 to the time of his death in 1794. He was admitted as honorary freeman the Clockmaker's Company in 1781. A maker of fine and interesting watches an was "Watchmaker to the King" in 1784. Little is known of Perigal, but the few surviving watches bearing his name are of considerable mechanical interest and of fine quality. He was succeeded in the business by his son, also Francis, and there were several other makers in the family.

Sold