- 70
Justin Vulliamy, London
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- A ROYAL AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT GOLD PAIR CASED DUMB HALF QUARTER REPEATING CENTRE SECONDS CYLINDER WATCH WITH STOP SLIDE1784, NO. OUO
- gold
- diameter 58 mm
• gilt full plate movement, cylinder escapement, pierced and engraved balance cock, diamond endstone, turned pillars, fusee and chain, two steel hammers dumb quarter repeating on blocks to the inside case back white enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute track with single dots to mark each 1/2 quarter, gold beetle and poker hands, steel centre seconds hand • plain gilt metal dust cap • plain gold inner case, pulse piece below 5 o'clock, movement stop slide between 2 and 3 o'clock, long plunge pendant, the centre of the case back with an oval reserve with the cipher and coronet of Frederick Duke of York, surrounded by chased and engraved radial and foliate decoration, the bezel decorated en suite, inner and outer cases with London hallmarks for 1784, case with maker's mark WQ for William Quinton • movement signed and numbered Just Vulliamy London ouo
Provenance
Frederick Duke of York
Literature
Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, p. 286, pl. 175
Catalogue Note
The cipher and coronet on the present lot belongs to Frederick Duke of York, the second son of King George III. The watch hallmark dates to when the Duke was twenty-one. Frederick was a handsome and popular figure during his time, and served as a nominal Commander-in-Chief of the British Army. He was the administrative head from 1795-1809 and then again from 1811-1818. He was a benevolent prince and established the Duke of York School for Sons of Soldiers in Chelsea.
The present watch is included in Vulliamy's daybook, now held at the office of Public Records at Kew. The book records the watch's number and the coronet description. It was returned for cleaning at least twice, the first time in 1798 and the second in 1809. At that time the owner was shown as Major General de Bude, a Swiss soldier and courtier. De Bude initially acted as the governor of the Duke of York's younger brother, but soon came to the notice of the Duke of York and became Secretary of Foreign Affairs with an address in St. James Palace. He is listed as dying in 1818 at Windsor Castle.
The watch may have been given by the Duke to de Bude as a gift, alternatively, de Bude may have been acting on the Duke of York's behalf.
Justin Vulliamy was the patriarch of three generations of watch and clockmakers. He left Switzerland and moved to England becoming the partner of Benjamin Gray and eventually married his daughter.
Vulliamy is known for his duplex watches which he continued to make from 1800-1820.
The present watch is included in Vulliamy's daybook, now held at the office of Public Records at Kew. The book records the watch's number and the coronet description. It was returned for cleaning at least twice, the first time in 1798 and the second in 1809. At that time the owner was shown as Major General de Bude, a Swiss soldier and courtier. De Bude initially acted as the governor of the Duke of York's younger brother, but soon came to the notice of the Duke of York and became Secretary of Foreign Affairs with an address in St. James Palace. He is listed as dying in 1818 at Windsor Castle.
The watch may have been given by the Duke to de Bude as a gift, alternatively, de Bude may have been acting on the Duke of York's behalf.
Justin Vulliamy was the patriarch of three generations of watch and clockmakers. He left Switzerland and moved to England becoming the partner of Benjamin Gray and eventually married his daughter.
Vulliamy is known for his duplex watches which he continued to make from 1800-1820.