.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Accompanied by a 14k gold and polychrome enamel key.
William Ilbery
William Ilbery or Ilbury (c. 1760-1851) was a celebrated watchmaker from London, renowned for his exceptional timepieces made for the Chinese market. In 1836 Ilbery settled in Fleurier, left for Macao in 1839 and then to Canton China. There he was known to have become friendly with Bovet and they met regularly, even though they were rivals.
Ilbery's early watches were very much in the English style, fitted with full plate movements and duplex escapements. His later movements showed the influence of the free standing barrels of the Lepine caliber as used in Jaquet Droz's Swiss production signed in London and that of William Anthony, who worked in London. William Anthony (1764 - 1844), another celebrated watchmaker of his day, was sixteen years senior to Ilbery. He influenced greatly the latter's work and contributed substantially to the development of Chinese watches, however it is still William Ilbery who is known as the "father" of the Chinese watches.
The Duplex Movement
The duplex escapement, as seen on the present watch, was often found in English watches from the late 18th century until around 1860. It was probably invented by Pierre Le Roy and was patented in 1782 by Thomas Tyrer. The duplex movement was featured in finer quality pocket watches. A duplex escapement wheel has a double set of teeth, or has two superimposed escape wheels. Ilbery's early watches were fitted with full plate movements and duplex escapements, while later watches showed the influence of the free standing barrels of the Lepine caliber as used in Jaquet Droz's Swiss production signed in London and that of William Anthony, who worked in London. William Anthony (1764 - 1844), another celebrated watchmaker of his day, was sixteen years senior to Ilbery. He influenced greatly the latter's work and contributed substantially to the development of Chinese watches, however it is still William Ilbery who is known as the "father" of the Chinese watches.
Titus and Berenice
The present watch features a fine enamel scene depicting Titus and Berenice. Berenice, daughter of King Herod Agrippa I, belonged to the Herodian Dynasty, which ruled the Roman province of Judaea from around 39 B.C. to 92 A.D. She had several marriages, one of which made her become the queen of Chalcis. Around 68 A.D., she began a love affair with Titus Flavius Vespasianus, who would become the Roman emperor after the first Jewish-Roman War. Berenice, also bearing the Roman name Julia, was disliked by the Roman people, so Titus dismissed her when he became emperor.
The enamel scene picture on the present watch is likely depicting the turning point of the relationship between Titus and Berenice, when he rejects her upon his ascension to emperor in 79 A.D. It is not known if Titus intended to send for Berenice after regaining approval from the people, and he died suddenly in 81 A.D. Given her ascent to becoming a potential empress of Rome, her story became well known and is written about in the New Testament Book of Acts.
Canton became the first Chinese port to be opened for trade, and was a hub for Western colonization. The trading post flourished, but by 1839 many shops were forced to close due to the Opium crisis. By 1842, the first Opium War was over, and the shops opened up again. A church was even built in the center of the trading square, and missionaries would preach to the local communities. Perhaps the present scene was requested by a wealthy client after becoming familiar with the New Testament.
William Ilbery
William Ilbery or Ilbury (c. 1760-1851) was a celebrated watchmaker from London, renowned for his exceptional timepieces made for the Chinese market. In 1836 Ilbery settled in Fleurier, left for Macao in 1839 and then to Canton China. There he was known to have become friendly with Bovet and they met regularly, even though they were rivals.
Ilbery's early watches were very much in the English style, fitted with full plate movements and duplex escapements. His later movements showed the influence of the free standing barrels of the Lepine caliber as used in Jaquet Droz's Swiss production signed in London and that of William Anthony, who worked in London. William Anthony (1764 - 1844), another celebrated watchmaker of his day, was sixteen years senior to Ilbery. He influenced greatly the latter's work and contributed substantially to the development of Chinese watches, however it is still William Ilbery who is known as the "father" of the Chinese watches.
The Duplex Movement
The duplex escapement, as seen on the present watch, was often found in English watches from the late 18th century until around 1860. It was probably invented by Pierre Le Roy and was patented in 1782 by Thomas Tyrer. The duplex movement was featured in finer quality pocket watches. A duplex escapement wheel has a double set of teeth, or has two superimposed escape wheels. Ilbery's early watches were fitted with full plate movements and duplex escapements, while later watches showed the influence of the free standing barrels of the Lepine caliber as used in Jaquet Droz's Swiss production signed in London and that of William Anthony, who worked in London. William Anthony (1764 - 1844), another celebrated watchmaker of his day, was sixteen years senior to Ilbery. He influenced greatly the latter's work and contributed substantially to the development of Chinese watches, however it is still William Ilbery who is known as the "father" of the Chinese watches.
Titus and Berenice
The present watch features a fine enamel scene depicting Titus and Berenice. Berenice, daughter of King Herod Agrippa I, belonged to the Herodian Dynasty, which ruled the Roman province of Judaea from around 39 B.C. to 92 A.D. She had several marriages, one of which made her become the queen of Chalcis. Around 68 A.D., she began a love affair with Titus Flavius Vespasianus, who would become the Roman emperor after the first Jewish-Roman War. Berenice, also bearing the Roman name Julia, was disliked by the Roman people, so Titus dismissed her when he became emperor.
The enamel scene picture on the present watch is likely depicting the turning point of the relationship between Titus and Berenice, when he rejects her upon his ascension to emperor in 79 A.D. It is not known if Titus intended to send for Berenice after regaining approval from the people, and he died suddenly in 81 A.D. Given her ascent to becoming a potential empress of Rome, her story became well known and is written about in the New Testament Book of Acts.
Canton became the first Chinese port to be opened for trade, and was a hub for Western colonization. The trading post flourished, but by 1839 many shops were forced to close due to the Opium crisis. By 1842, the first Opium War was over, and the shops opened up again. A church was even built in the center of the trading square, and missionaries would preach to the local communities. Perhaps the present scene was requested by a wealthy client after becoming familiar with the New Testament.