The Private Collection of Theodor Beyer

Hotel Baur Au Lac, Zurich, Nov 16, 2003

LOT 31

Markwick Markham, Borrell, London, No. 23415, made for the Islamic Market, with London hallmarks for 1813-1815. Very fine and small 18K gold and enamel triple-cased watch.

CHF 12,000 - 14,000

EUR 7,800 - 9,000 / USD 9,000 - 10,500

Sold: CHF 9,775

C. Outer: double-body, glazed, with scalloped edge, the bezels with champlevé enamel decoration over a pink ground. Second: Double-body with scalloped edge, bezels with scarlet champlevé decoration over a turquoise ground, the back with a finely painted spray of flowers against an opalescent enamel ground. Inner: double-body, bassine, polished, all marked "A.N.", a large rose-cut diamond set on the pendant. D. White enamel with Islamic numerals. Gold "beetle and poker" hands. M. Gilt brass full plate with pierced and engraved Egyptian pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass cock pierced and engraved with foliate scrolls diamond endstone.Dial and back plate signed.Diam. 52 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 3-44

Good

Worn pushpiece(s)

Movement: 3-22*

Good

Later original

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

James Markwick & Markwick Markham. Of the two London makers, James Markwick, father and son, the elder was apprenticed on 25 June 1656 to Richard Taylor being subsequently turned over to Edward Gilpin. He became Free of the Clockmaker's Company on August 6, 1666. Six apprentices were bound to him between 1674 and 1699. In 1673 he succeeded Samuel Betts behind the Royal Exchange. Although he held office in the Clockmakers' Company, he was irregular in attendance, ceasing to pay any attention to its affairs after 1700. He worked until at least 1704 or 1706. His son, James Marckwick Jr., became Free of the Company in 1692 by patrimony, and died in 1730. The younger James Markwick was an eminent maker, Master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1720 and a very early user of jeweled bearings. In later years he was in partnership with his son-in-law Robert Markham who succeeded him, under the trading name of Markwick Markham which became famous for watches destined for the Turkish market. Not only did this notoriety encourage the apearance of spuriously signed watches, but at 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 of them were reputable watchmakers in their own right, selling other products under their own names. Louis Recordon of Soho was an expatriate Swiss and was a channel for the Swiss movements or parts which were commonly used in London productions for the ear East, as well as the London distributor for Breguet.