Important collector's watches, wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Apr 13, 2002

LOT 67

The Urn Markwick Markham, Perigal, London, No. 24914, dated December 1781, made for the Islamic market. Very fine and extremely rare small 18K gold, gilt metal, silver and enamel, diamond-set concealed dial form watch, designed as an urn.

CHF 100,000 - 120,000

EUR 70,000 - 80,000 / USD 60,000 - 70,000

Sold: CHF 223,500

C. Two-body, with translucent scarlet enamel over superbly done flinqué, the central portion with applied silver diamond-set garlands alternating with small painted on enamel cartouches resembling moss agate, the top with stripes of opaque white enamel with circular blue enamel cartouches, each centered by a rose-cut diamond, below narrow stripe of white enamel dots resembling half pearls, base with opaque white enamel with gold petals and diamonds, underneath the base, white enamel with the initials ?EJ? in blue enamel centered by an open right hand within a shield, translucent dark blue enamel frame with the gold inscription ?DEC : 1781?, hinged top cover decorated en suite with alternating rings with scarlet, opaque white and translucent blue enamel set with diamonds and surmounted by small gold pendant. D. White enamel with Islamic numerals, outer minute divisions with five-minute Islamic markers. Gold ?beetle and poker? hands. M. 22 mm, gilt brass full plate with elaborate Egyptian pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, single-footed cock. Signed on dial and movement. Dim. Height 78 mm, diam. 31 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

Markwick, James, Markwick, Markham, and Perigal. James Markwick the elder became free of the Clockmaker?s Company on 6 August 1666. Six apprentices were bound to him between 1674 and 1699. In 1673 he succeeded to Samuel Betts behind the Royal Exchange, and worked until at least 1704 or 1706. His son, James Markwick Jr., became free of the Company in 1692 by patrimony, and died in 1730. The younger James Markwick, Master of the Clockmaker?s Company in 1720, was a very early user of jeweled bearings. In later years he was in partnership with his son-in-law Robert Markham who succeeded him, using the trading name of Markwick Markham which became famous for watches destined for the Turkish market. Toward the end of the century Markham, or his successor, associated the names of other watchmakers with their own on products intended for the East. The makers thus found associated are: Francis Perigal, Peter Upjohn, H. Story, Borrell, John Johnson, Louis Recordon, Dupont. All were reputable watch-makers in their own right, selling other products under their own names. For a note on Islamic numerals, see lot 65. A similar urn is part of the Wilsdorf Collection, published in ?Rolex, Montres et Emaux de Genève?, page 187.