Thomas Cartwright, London

• Movement: gilded full plate, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance, decoratively pierced and engraved winged masked balance cock, turned baluster pillars, fusee and chain • silver dust cap engraved Thos. Cartwright the Prince’s Watchmaker • movement signed T. Cartwright, London, Principi Horologs
• Dial: gold champlevé, Roman numerals, inner half hour divisions, outer Arabic minute ring, blued steel double baluster minute hand, the first taper indicating the half-hour divisions, elaborate hour hand, outer Arabic minute track, dial signed
• Case: gold inner, the back centered with a gold rosette, aperture for winding above, decoratively pierced and engraved band with scrolling flowers and foliage inhabited by birds, a rosette to the base • gold outer case with four portrait busts chased and embossed around a central cartouche, the bezels pierced and engraved with decorative foliage, both cases with maker’s marks JB (possibly John Birdwhistle)

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, pp. 172-173, pl. 95

Movement running at time of cataloguing, repeating operational and loud and clear. Dial in good refreshed condition. The inner case with some rubbing to the central rosette, pierced decoration remains clear and in attractive condition with some minor depressions. Outer case with some rubbing and a little loss of definition to the busts and exposed parts. Case maker's mark beneath bell to inner case back rubbed but still just legible.
"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."

Thomas Cartwright (c.1679-1741) was watchmaker to both Queen Anne and King George I, and lived for part of his career at the Royal Exchange in London. Clearly proud of his
Royal patronage, his watches appear to have been rather elaborately signed, in this instance: ‘Tho. Cartwright Principi Horologs’, in addition, the dust cap is handsomely engraved ‘Thos Cartwright the Prince’s Watchmaker”. A similarly signed movement by Cartwright is in the collection of the Clockmakers’ Company and is illustrated in Cedric Jagger’s book, Royal Clocks (Hale, 1983, p. 75). In the aforementioned book, Jagger notes that Cartwright began his apprenticeship with Richard Watts, probably in 1693, before being turned over to Christopher Gould but appears never to have been made a Freeman of the Clockmakers’ Company.

The outer case has a central cartouche of the form typically found on chased and embossed cases from the early 18th century. Surrounding the case back’s cartouche are four portrait busts which are almost certainly based on classical figures but have, as yet, not been identified. Britten notes in “Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers” a watch by Thomas Cartwright with repoussé outer case in the Schloss Collection.