A1501
Silver Hallmarked Champleve Dial Verge
£7,800.00
Signed Ja Lloyd - London
Hallmarked London 1738
Hallmarked London 1738
An early 18th Century English verge with silver champleve dial in hallmarked silver pair cases.
Diameter 58 mm Depth 21mm
Out of stock
Description
An early 18th Century English verge with silver champleve dial in hallmarked silver pair cases. Deep full plate fire gilt movement with square baluster pillars. Fusee and chain with worm and wheel barrel setup between the plates. Pierced and engraved cock with mask, broad pierced and engraved foot. Plain gilt balance, silver regulator disc. Signed silver champleve dial with Roman and Arabic numerals, arcaded minute ring, pierced gilt hands. Matching plain silver pair cases, silver pendant and bow. both cases bearing the London hallmark of 1738 and maker's mark “RY” with number corresponding to that on the movement.
The cases of this watch are very unusual in bearing the earliest standard silver hallmark on a watchcase. Until the plate offences act came into force in 1739 small articles of silver were not required to be assayed. In Philip Priestley's recent book, British Watchcase Gold and Silver Marks 1670 – 1970, he gives the earliest hallmarked sterling silver watchcase as being Graham number 5863. This case was made by John Ward and bears the London date letter for the year 1739/40. The marks are of even greater interest as the same publication lists the casemaker as: Ralph Yeomans, a watchcase maker at Mr. Lloyds, a watchmaker in West Smithfields near Crowe Laine. James Lloyd, son of James Lloyd, apprenticed 1713, free of the Clockmakers Company 1722, died 1764.
