Exceptional Collectors Timepieces, Ho...

Geneva, May 15, 2005

LOT 97

Charles Frodsham, 115 New Bond Street, London. Made in 1854. Very fine and rare giant gilt brass eight-day carriage clock with hour striking and repeating. Accompanied by the original mahogany and brass travelling case with flush folding brass carrying handle.

CHF 50,000 - 70,000

EUR 32,000 - 45,000 / USD 43,000 - 60,000

Sold: CHF 48,875

C. Multi-piece, frosted gilt brass, hinged handle, bevelled glass viewing port, moulded top, curved corner pillars,bevelled glass front and sides, lift-out back door with shuttered winding and hand-setting holes, moulded base.D. Silvered chapter ring with radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, gilt brass dial mask finely chased andengraved with flowers and foliage, frosted gilt brass fillet. Blued steel hands. M. Polished brass rectangular, fiveturned baluster pillars, two spring barrels each with fusee and chain, maintaining power on the going train, largebrass platform escapement with lateral lever, cut bimetallic compensation balance with peripheral temperatureand meantime adjustment screws, flat blued steel balance-spring, index regulator, rack striking, sounding thehours on a gong on the hour or at will.Dial and movement signed, gong post stamped "G FD"Dim. 19.5 x 12.5 x 10 cm. Excluding the handle.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 6
Movement: 3 - 23*
Dial: 3 - 5 - 01

Notes

Charles Frodsham (1810-1871) W W as the most celebrated of the numerous Frodsham family of watchmakers and was a prominent maker of very high grade chronometers and watches. In 1868 he devised a form of electrical contact for taking signals for chronometers. The company he founded continued after his death. At some time before the middle of the 19th century, the company began making clocks and lever escapement and chronometer escapement watches of the very highest quality, they continued to do so until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. The clocks made the the Frodsham firm are always very high quality and their name is often to be found on "giant" carriage clocks of which the present lot is a good example. The survival of the original wooden carrying case is uncommon.