Timothy Williamson. A rare and very unusual gilt metal and paste-set three train petite sonnerie centre seconds jumping 1/4ths of a second musical coach watch with silver and shagreen outer case, made for the Chinese Market

THE PROPERTY OF A DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN

SIGNED TIMOTHY WILLIAMSON, LONDON, CIRCA 1780

Details

Timothy Williamson. A rare and very unusual gilt metal and paste-set three train petite sonnerie centre seconds jumping 1/4ths of a second musical coach watch with silver and shagreen outer case, made for the Chinese Market
Signed Timothy Williamson, London, circa 1780
With gilt-finished three train verge movement, chain fusée, engraved and pierced balance cock, en passant hour, quarter and half hour striking on two hammers onto the case, a tune playing at the hour by means of a pinned barrel activating six hammers playing on a nest of six bells, gilt dust cover with pierced and engraved floral decorated band, the white enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer Arabic five minute divisions, centre seconds, jumping 1/4ths of a second, in large circular case with pierced and engraved floral decorated band, paste-set bezel, the back centred by an engraved floral decoration, striking/silence lever in the band, silver and shagreen pinwork decorated outer case, dust cover signed
114 mm. diam., outer case 127 mm. diam.

Lot Essay

Timothy Williamson, London, was active from 1769 to 1788 and specialized in decorative and complicated watches and clocks for the Chinese market. A number of his fine timepieces made for the Emperor Qianlong can today be found in Museums, notably the Beijing Palace Museum (see G.H. Baillie Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World, Volume 1, p. 344).

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