Exceptional Horological Works of Art

Geneva, Oct 19, 2002

LOT 44

William Anthony, London, No. 1935, made for the Chinese market, circa 1800. Magnificent and extremely rare 18K gold and enamel, eight day-going, pearl- and diamond-set oval watch with special escapement.

CHF 110,000 - 150,000

EUR 75,000 - 85,000

Sold: CHF 124,500

C. Double-body, the back of Imperial blue translucent enamel over engine-turning, double row calibrated split pearl-set border, the very fine applied diamond- and pearl-set navette decoration centered with a large diamond, borders with azure champlevé enamel oval rim with geometrical pattern of opaque white and translucent red enamels. Double row calibrated split pearl-set bezel and pendant. Hinged gilt brass cuvette mounted to the movement ring. D. White enamel, eccentric chapter ring set at the top with radial Roman numerals and outer half-minute divisions, subsidiary seconds set symmetrically in the lower part. Gold "arrow" hands. M. Oval, 44 x 55.6 mm. (20 x 25???), gilt brass bridge caliber fully chased and engraved with scrolling foliage, 9 jewels, free-standing barrel, five wheel train, ruby duplex escapement, plain polished steel curved five-arm balance, flat balance spring, diamond endstone. Signed on the dial and cuvette. Dim. 95 x 57 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 21
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

This lot is a fine example of the eight day-going oval watches made in small numbers for the Chinese market. Anthony is known to have delivered several to the Chinese Court in Peking. Like the majority of the finest decorative watches destined for the Oriental market, these were originally made in pairs, but most were separated over the years. An almost identical watch (No. 1931) is described in "Watches" by Cecil Clutton and George Daniels, London 1965, fig. 242. William Anthony (c. 1765-1844) Born about 1765, William Anthony worked in Red Lion Street, St John?s Square, Clerkenwell, where he made high quality 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 around it. 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. He died in straitened circumstances in 1844.