• cal. 23''' frosted gilt full plate, ringed cylindrical pillars, foliate engraved backplate furniture, dual-wound twin spring barrels secured by a semi-circular bridge and sharing a single chain and fusee, maintaining power, duplex escapement, three-arm balance with peripheral timing screws, blued steel flat balance spring, diamond endstone, index regulator, experimental 6 day power reserve movement • two-body case engraved with swags, the bezels set with red, green and white paste, agate back carved with a stylized flower • gilt brass dust cover • white enamel with radial Roman numerals, Arabic quarter hour numerals, gold spade hands, large subsidiary seconds, outer minute track • dial and movement signed

Movement is in working order while cataloguing, but it has not been tested for the accuracy of time keeping and a service might be required at the buyer's expense. Two-body case with traces of restoration, some pastes of colour are missing and the gold ground is gone in some places due to use and age. Dial with ancient scratches from 4 to 7 through the subsidiary second. Movement and dust cover are in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

William Anthony (1765-1844) worked in Red Lion Street, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell, and specialised in watches for the Chinese market.

Watches by William Anthony very rarely appear on the market. From a study of the public collections and the auction market over the last 50 years we learn that less than 30 (from which 6 with expanding hands and 15 round watches) are known to exist. Most of them were or still are part of famous collections as the Collection of King Farouk of Egypt, the Sir David Salomon Collection, the Marryat Collection, the Sandoz Collection at Musée du Locle, the Lord Sandberg Collection, the Patek Philippe Museum. One oval watch was sold in the Belin Collection at Sotheby's London, in November 1979, as lot 100 as the most expensive lot of the sale and recorded as the most expensive watch for that year.