Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...
Hong Kong, Jun 08, 2008
LOT 114
Diamond Snowflake William Anthony, No. 1721. The case with London hallmarks for 1796-97. Very fine, large, 18K gold and enamel, pearl and diamondset pocket watch.
HKD 120,000 - 150,000
USD 16,000 - 20,000 / EUR 10,000 - 12,000
C. Two-body, ?Directoire?, by Jonah Mince (mastermark IM), back decorated with translucent Imperial blue enamel over elaborate engine-turning with rose-cut diamond-set applied rosette and large split-pearl in the center, azure enamel frame with red enamel dots, pearl-set bezels and pendant. Hinged gilt cuvette fixed to the movement ring. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions. Gold arrowhead hands. M. 42 mm., Hessen-type gilt brass full plate, finely foliate chased and engraved, fusee and chain, cylinder escapement with brass escape wheel, 3-arm steel balance, flat balance-spring, single-footed solid engraved cock with diamond endstone, index regulator. Cuvette signed. Diam. 59 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AA |
Very good |
Case: 3-61 |
Good |
Movement: 3** |
Good Repair required, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 5-55-01 |
Poor Luminous material reapplied HANDS Original |
Notes
Born about 1765, William Anthony worked in Red Lion Street, St John?s Square, Clerkenwell, where he made high class, decorative watches for the Chinese market. Characteristic of his production are watches with oval dials and hands which are jointed so as to adjust automatically to the changing radius of the dial as they travel round. As a successful tradesman, Anthony played an active part in the founding of the Watch- and Clock-makers? Benevolent Association in 1815, but thereafter suffered a series of losses following unsuccessful litigation with Grimaldi & Johnson and an ill-fated attempt to set up a commercial exhibition in the Somerset Gallery, Strand, of Commonwealth and Stuart costume displayed on wax models. He died in straitened circumstances in 1844.