Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Jun 06, 2004

LOT 82

Privateer Chonometer Thomas Earnshaw, London, No. 3090, hallmarked 1802-03. Very fine and rare 22K gold pair-cased pocket chronometer with ?Z? balance.

HKD 150,000 - 180,000

EUR 16,000 - 19,000 / USD 19,000 - 23,000

Sold: HKD 207,000

C. outer: two-body, by ?RG?, dated 1804, engine turned, center engraved around a crest with three ?fleur-de-lis?: ?GULIELMO SUO DE MALO LACU D D MORIENS ZACH: MUDGE AD MDCCCLXVII?. Inner: two-body, by ?TH?, ?bassine?, polished. D. off-white, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, subsidiary seconds. Gold ?heart and poker? hands. Center signed: ?Thomas Barry Esq to his friend Capt.n Mudge?. M. 47 mm, frosted gilt full-plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with Harrison?s maintaining power and chain, Earnshaw spring detent escapement, ?Z? bimetallic compensation balance with sliding weights and two gold mean time screws, single-footed cock with diamond endstone, escapement jeweled and capped, blued steel free-sprung helical balance-spring.Signed on dial and movement.Diam. 65 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 12 - 01

Notes

A privateer vessel was a privately financed and owned warship which had been granted government license to attack enemy vessels. Privateering was a form of legitimate piracy. During the war of 1812, New York had 26 privateer ships on the seas, Baltimore as many as 18, while Newport, Charleston, Boston, Newburyport, Bristol, New London, Salem, Portsmouth, etc., all had their share. . During the great era of privateering, from approximately 1589 to 1815, privateers were important auxiliaries to the regular Navies. Privateersmen, being authorized to keep all or a part of their booty, often became extremely wealthy. Captain Mudge was the commander of the Gov Plumer, a privateer ship that took part in the War of 1812. Zachary Mudge (1770-1852) began his naval career in 1780 at the age of ten; by 1849 he had attained the rank of admiral.He was first lieutenant on H.M.S. Discovery, serving under Captain Vancouver, who in 1792 named Cape Mudge after him. Thomas Barry is recorded as having been a gunner in 1812 on the privateer ship the Macedonian, which also took part in the War of 1812.