Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 14, 2017

LOT 214

WILLIAM ANTHONY ENAMEL AND GOLD William Anthony, London, number 1871, made for the Chinese Market, circa 1795. Magnificent and rare 18K gold and enamel,centre seconds watches with special escapement.

CHF 20,000 - 30,000

HKD 160,000 - 240,000 / USD 20,000 - 30,000

Double body, with split-pearl set bezels and pendants, the backs of green translucent enamel over engine-turning, with split pearl-set border, Hinged gilt brass cuvettes. White enamel with Roman numerals and outer minute and seconds ring. Gold arrow hands. Gilt brass, fully chased with scrolling foliage decoration, Chinese calibre drawn from that of Lepine with free standing barrel, duplex escapement, plain flat five-arm polished steel balance with flat balance spring and diamond end-stone. Hack feature at 2 oclock.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good

Case: 3-25

Good

Chipped

Movement: 3-6*

Good

Slightly oxidized

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

signed and numbered on the cuvette. DIAM. 64 mm. The present lot was previously sold by Neumarkt on June 1, 1972 William Anthony Born about 1765, William Anthony worked in Red Lion Street, St John's Square, Clerkenwell, where he made high class, 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 round. 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, of Commonwealth and Stuart costume displayed on wax models. He died in straitened circumstances in 1844.