Exceptional Collectors Timepieces, Ho...

Geneva, May 15, 2005

LOT 104

?John Stephens? Robert Grinkin, London. Made circa 1625, arms engraved circa 1700. Very fine and rare early gilt brass and silver pre-balance spring oval pendant watch.

CHF 18,000 - 23,000

EUR 12,000 - 15,000 / USD 15,000 - 20,000

Sold: CHF 23,000

C. Two-body, silver band chased with foliage, outer hinged cover engraved with the arms of John Stephens,Attorney General to Henry, Prince of Wales and Charles I, the inner surface engraved with a laurel wreath.D. Oval dial plate finely chased and engraved with inhabited foliage, applied silver chapter ring with radial Romannumerals and star half-hour markers. Elaborate blued steel single hand. M. Hinged gilt brass oval full-plate withround baluster pillars, the backplate with engraved foliate band on the border, fusee with gut line, verge escape-ment,plain steel two-arm balance without spring, irregular florally pierced gilt brass cock secured by a pin, ratchetwheel set-up with matching cock.Signed on the backplate.Dim. 58 x 35 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3 - 8*
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

This watch was previously sold by Antiquorum, Geneva, in "The Art of British Horology", 21 October 1995, lot 3. An almost identical watch by the same maker is described and illustrated in T.P. Camerer Cuss, (rev. by T.A. Camerer Cuss), ?The Camerer Cuss Book of Antique Watches?, 1976, pp. 58-59, pl. 11. Literature: Richard Good, ?A pre-balance spring horizontal table clock with hour striking and alarum by Robert Grinkin of London?, Antiquarian Horology, xiv, 1986, 381-85; J.H. Leopold, ?Clockmaking in Britain and the Netherlands?; Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London, 43, 1989, 155-65 (p158). Grinkin The three makers named Grinkin working in 17th century London were related. Richard Grinkin senior was free of the Blacksmiths' Company in 1609, taking Sampson Shelton of Shepshed as apprentice in 1613. He died in 1626. His two sons were also apprenticed in the Blacksmiths' Company. One of them, Edmund, became free in 1637. Later he trans-ferred to the Clockmakers' Company. Soon after, he emigrated to the Hague, where he died before 1661. His elder brother, Robert, was a member of the Clockmakers' Company from the year of its foundation in 1632. A leading maker, he was master of the Company 1648 - 50 and 1654 - 55. He died in 1660.