George Graham: A fine and rare walnut month-going longcase regulator, London

11-inch square dial signed Geo Graham, London, with outer minute ring enclosing seconds dial, hour sector and calendar aperture with pin hole adjustment, maintaining power lever at 15, the substantial movement with six knopped latched pillars, canted upper corners to the plates, five wheel high count train with dead beat escapement and extended collet on the escape wheel, all possible pivots with end plates, those on the backplate punch numbered from 1 to 6, with stop work and bolt and shutter maintaining power, two movement supporting brackets attached to the back board, the pendulum with massive lenticular bob, graduated rating nut and brass rod, oscillating against a silvered beat plaque, the case of good colour with domed caddy cresting above a moulded cornice and brass-capped hood pilasters, well figured rectangular trunk door, crossbanded book matched veneered plinth with moulded stepped base and cushion feet, the sides crossbanded and bordered with chevron stringing

Don. Luis Fernando de Sousa Coutinho Castelo-Branco Menezes, Third Marquis of Borba, (1835-1928) and thence by decent to the current owner.

Longcase regulator No. 728 with an almost identical movement and dial but in an oak case was sold in these rooms  Lot 185 on 25th June 1969.

The dial in good original condition with minor surface scratches, now in need of re-silvering as are the hour and calendar rings. Movement in good original condition throughout but in need of a clean, screws lacking from movement fixing brackets. Pendulum suspension broken and brass block lacking. The case in generally good un-restored condition, lower capital to back right hood pilaster replaced, escutcheons lacking from hood and trunk doors, some restoration to door edge moulding and horizontal veneer cracks to the top and bottom of the trunk door, minor scuffs, old marks and cracks throughout. With pendulum, replaced weight, winder and case key.
"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.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

George Graham (1674-1751), one of the most renowned clockmakers, was appreticed to Henry Aske in 1688 and then entered the service of Thomas Tompion as a journeyman in 1695. He married Tompion's niece and became his partner in 1704, succeeding to the business after Tompion's death in 1713. He worked at the sign of 'The Dial and Three Crowns' at the corner of Water Lane and Fleet Street. Graham was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1721 and Master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1722. He was a highly inventive maker and may be credited with the invention of the cylinder escapement, mercury pendulum and possibly the deadbeat escapement. On his death in 1751 he was buried, with Tompion, in the central aisle of Westminster Abbey.  The fact that this regulator and case are un-numbered is an indication of the rarity of this example in that no identification markings were deemed necessary in the workshop.