A1503

Gold and Enamel Repeating Cylinder by Graham

£32,000.00

Signed  G Graham    London
Hallmarked London   1749
A mid 18th Century quarter repeating cylinder by Graham in gold and enamel pair cases.
Diameter   49 mm       Depth   16 mm

Out of stock

Description

A mid 18th Century quarter repeating cylinder by Graham in gold and enamel pair cases.  Full plate fire gilt movement with five turned pillars.  Pierced and engraved masked cock with diamond endstone in a polished steel setting, engraved foot and plate for the silver regulator disc.  Fusee and chain with worm and wheel barrel setup between the plates.  Plain three arm steel balance, blue steel spiral hairspring.  Polished steel cylinder, large steel escape wheel.  Push pendant quarter repeating on a bell in the case.  Fine white enamel dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, pierced gold hands.  20 carat gold pierced and engraved inner case bearing the movement number below the gold pendant.  Under the signed bell the maker's mark “JW” below a star and number corresponding to that on the movement.   20 carat gold outer case decorated in white, translucent green and blue enamel.  Oval monogrammed cartouche of translucent blue enamel over an engraved ground framed within an engraved gold ribbon.  Solid white champleve enamel horizontal stripes alternate with translucent green enamel stipes over an engraved ground.  The bezel and edge of the back pierced and decorated with white champleve enamel and translucent blue enamel interwoven with engraved gold acanthus leaves.

A fine attractive watch by one of the most eminent English watchmakers.  George Graham (1673-1751) apprenticed to Henry Aske in 1688.  He worked for Thomas Tompion and later became partners with him.  After Tompion's death Graham continued the business in Fleet Street. He developed the cylinder escapement and exclusively used it in watches after 1728. Casemaker John Ward, 1730, Boars Head Court, Fleet Street. The bell is also scratch marked with the makers name. Robert Romley of Horseshoe Alley, Middle Moorfields where he was working from 1745 – 1772. He also made sheep bells. (Thanks to Jeremy Evans for providing information).