Lot 41
  • 41

William Hughes, London

Estimate
50,000 - 80,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • A MAGNIFICENT AND VERY RARE SILVER, GILT-METAL, ENAMEL AND IVORY PAPER FAN WITH A TIMEPIECE MADE FOR THE CHINESEMARKETMID 18th CENTURY, NO. 1795
  • silver, gilt metal, enamel and ivory
  • length 280 mm
Movement: miniature verge, gilded backplate, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock, fusee and chain, turned pillars, signed and numbered
Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, aperture for winding between 3 and 4 o’clock
Fan: gilt-finished guard sticks with multi-coloured paste-set floral sprays and birds, alternating decoration of glazed ovals of basse-taille enamel, ivory sticks carved with Oriental figures, two-sided paper leaf painted with a scene from the Aeneid in which Venus is asking Vulcan to make a set of armour for her son Aeneas, the reverse with a painting of two ladies dressed in period costume • pivot point fitted with a watch with silver paste-set bezel, the watch case with maker’s mark HT probably for Henry Cleaver Taylor

With an associated key

Literature

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 248, pl. 154

Condition

The movement is not running, the balance rotates when power is applied to the train. Dial and hands in good condition. The front guard stick lacking one of the green paste stones. Some discolouring to the carved ivory sticks. Inner covers to the guard sticks with areas of painted decoration lacking. Slight crazing to the paper leaf painted scene.
"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."

Catalogue Note

This magnificent fan watch is signed by William Hughes who specialized in pieces for the Far East market. A large musical and automata coach watch by William Hughes was formerly in the Webster collection and sold at Sotheby’s on 27th May 1954, lot 69. The 1954 catalogue cited two bloodstone boxes and a table mirror which Simon Harcourt-Smith described in his Catalogue of the Palace Museum, Peiping, p. 21 and pls. 24a & b. William Hughes was recorded at the Dial near King Street, High Holborn until 1784 (see: Brian  Loomes, Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World, Vol. 2 p. 118). Interestingly, F. J. Britten notes that Thomas Earnshaw succeeded Hughes at his address in 1784 and Hughes himself moved to Llanfflewin in Wales.  Britten also cites a clock made by Hughes in circa 1765. Hughes was made an honorary Freeman of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1781.

Fans with watches are extremely rare, for two other examples see: Antiquorum Hong Kong, 4th June 1996, lot 406 signed by Upjohn and The Sandberg Watch Collection, Antiquorum Geneva, 31st March-1st April 2001, lot 179 attributed to James Cox.