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Lot Essay
Made for the Ottoman market, the present timepiece is a typical example of Markwick, Markham, Perigal^s fine craftsmanship, the finely champlevé enameled outer gold case decorated with an “en grisaille” trophy of arms.
Markwick, Markham (recorded 'Behind the Royal Exchange', London) flourished from 1725 to 1805. The firm specialised in the manufacture of watches, musical and ordinary clocks mainly for the Ottoman market.
James Markwick Jr. (d. 1730) became Free of the Clockmakers' Company in 1692 and his business succeeded that of Samuel Betts, one of the great early clockmaking pioneers. He became Master in 1720 and went into partnership with his brother-in-law Robert Markham who succeeded him in the business and carried on trading under the name Markwick, Markham. Around 1751, they were joined by the watchmaker Francis Perigal.
The business was so successful that their name became synonymous with watches and clocks made for the Turkish or Ottoman market, a lucrative business comprising most countries of the Near East and extending to Persia. The fame watches by Markwick, Markham enjoyed in the Ottoman Empire is underlined by forgeries of continental origin appearing on the market occasionally, often easily identified because of the faulty spelling of the firm's name.
Markwick, Markham (recorded 'Behind the Royal Exchange', London) flourished from 1725 to 1805. The firm specialised in the manufacture of watches, musical and ordinary clocks mainly for the Ottoman market.
James Markwick Jr. (d. 1730) became Free of the Clockmakers' Company in 1692 and his business succeeded that of Samuel Betts, one of the great early clockmaking pioneers. He became Master in 1720 and went into partnership with his brother-in-law Robert Markham who succeeded him in the business and carried on trading under the name Markwick, Markham. Around 1751, they were joined by the watchmaker Francis Perigal.
The business was so successful that their name became synonymous with watches and clocks made for the Turkish or Ottoman market, a lucrative business comprising most countries of the Near East and extending to Persia. The fame watches by Markwick, Markham enjoyed in the Ottoman Empire is underlined by forgeries of continental origin appearing on the market occasionally, often easily identified because of the faulty spelling of the firm's name.