About this lot

Description

movement circa 1730, (probably re-cased with fresh dial and hands circa 1790), the unsigned white dial, 40mm diameter, with black Arabic numerals, copper coloured arrowhead hands, outer minute track and winding aperture at 3 o’clock, front loading gilt full plate movement, signed GEO. GRAHAM LONDON 5409, the pierced and engraved winged balance cock with maidenhead embellishment at the neck and diamond end stone, cylinder escapement with chain fusée, silvered regulation and 4 pinned Egyptian pillars under a signed brass dust cover, inner case, 50mm diameter with convex bezel, verso with convex bezel around a central dark blue guilloché enamel panel, (outer case lacking)Footnote: Born in 1673, 'Honest' George Graham was one of the most eminent of English watchmakers. He was apprenticed to Thomas Tompion in 1688 and was free of the Clockmakers Company in 1695. After completing his apprenticeship, he became Tompion's assistant and then his partner, marrying his niece, Elizabeth, in 1704 and succeeding him after his death in 1713. He perfected the cylinder escapement - as in this example - originally designed and patented by Tompion in 1695. He went on to invent the dead-beat escapement in 1715 and the mercury pendulum in 1726.In 1721, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and was the author of 21 papers. In 1722, he was chosen as a member of their council, the same year as his election as Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers. Between 1730 and 1738, Graham's own apprentice was Thomas Mudge who went on to become an eminent watchmaker in his own right.Graham's style of living was distinguished by its simplicity, honesty and generosity. He died in 1751 and Tompion's grave in London's Westminster Abbey was opened to allow the two old friends to be buried together. This exceptional honour and the location of their interment is testament to the high esteem in which these eminent horologists were, and still are, held.It is one of the few original gravestones retained when the nave was repaved in 1835, and the inscription reads: 'Here lies the body of MR. THO TOMPION who departed this life on the 20th of November 1713 in the 75th year of his age. Also the body of George Graham of London watchmaker and F.R.S. whose curious inventions do honour to ye British genius whose accurate performances are ye standard of mechanic skill. He died ye XVI of November MDCCLI in the LXXVIII year of his age'Graham's watches are now much sought after and extremely collectible. This example is not listed in Jeremy Evans' reference 'Thomas Tompion at the Dial and Three Crowns', the nearest numbered examples being 5373 (1729) and 5438 (1732).Literature:Frederick James Britten - Britten's Old Clocks & Watches and their makers, Methuen, 9th edition 1982, pages 326-329With thanks to the Antiquarian Horological Society for their guidance. Condition report: Outer case: Lacking.Inner case: Cover opens and closes satisfactorily, and the hinge does not appear strained. Front and back bezel probably originally gilded but gilding now almost completely worn off. Verso: the enamel worn and heavily scratched with some minor chips and cracks visible.Crystal: Complete and secure with some minor scratches and chips as to be expected.Dial: In good condition. Some very minor chips to the very edge and some minor surface scratches all over. Hairline crack at 6 o'clock from the dial edge to just above the numeral. Minute hand a little out of shape.Movement: Catch opens and snaps shut satisfactorily and the hinge does not appear strained. Inner dust cover in good condition and engages and disengages as it should. Movement not currently in working order. Balance wheel moves freely and 'ticks' for one or two seconds before stopping. Hands move freely in both directions.

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