Francis Perigal, London

• Movement: gilded full plate movement, lever escapement, plain balance with four arms and eight poising and timing screws, straight bi-metallic strip for regulating the spiral spring, its foot fitted to a rack served by square in the centre of the regulation index, decoratively engraved mask with amusing crooked mask to the neck, fusee and chain • gilt-metal dust cap numbered 1079 and engraved Fras. Perigal Watchmaker to his Majesty, London • movement signed Fras. Perigal, Bond Street, London 1053
• Dial: white enamel dial, Roman numerals, Arabic outer minute ring, subsidiary dial for temperature above with indication controlled by a bi-metallic spiral, subsidiary seconds
below, gold heart-shaped hands
• Case: later associated silver case with London hallmarks for 1867 and maker’s mark PW incuse for Philip Woodman

George Daniels, Isle of Man

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, pp. 302-303, pl. 188

Cecil Clutton & George Daniels, Watches, 1965, pp. 112-114 & figs 43, 309-310, 3^rd ed. (1979) pp. 54,121 & figs 24 & 167 a-b

Cecil Clutton, Collector’s Collection, 1974, pp. 44-47 figs 15a-b

Movement running at time of cataloguing. Dial with two or three hairlines, one running in an arc from 10 to 2 o'clock, one to the subsidiary seconds, repair to the edge of the dial by 2 o'clock, very small chip to the edge below 6 o'clock. Movement fits well into the later case, the case itself with light scuffs.
"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."

Between 1785 and 1805 a small number of experimental lever watches were made by several different London based watchmakers, these included, amongst others, Grant,
Pendleton/Emery, Ellicott and Margetts, Taylor and Leroux. The present lever watch is an especially rare example, being the only surviving one known by Perigal.

Perigal was made Watchmaker to the King in 1784 and so it is highly likely that he had access to Mudge’s lever watch. Indeed, in their book Watches, Clutton and Daniels note that Perigal’s watch “shows how much he was influenced by the Mudge watch” (see op. cit. 1965, p. 114). The movement’s ebauche is similar to that used by Emery for his small size watches. It is known that Richard Pendleton made or was at the very least
heavily involved in the construction of watches for Emery and it is quite likely that Richard Pendleton was employed to make the escapement of Perigal’s lever watch. However, there are a number of differences to Emery’s, including the balance, bi-metallic regulation strip and Perigal’s use of a conventional cock. It is also significant to note that the lever is set at right angles, in the manner of Thomas Mudge’s, although the fork is mounted on top of one of the lever arms.

The present watch, no. 1053, and its escapement are examined and illustrated in detail in Watches by Clutton and Daniels. In their book, the authors write of Perigal and his lever watch: “A fine maker, he is particularly important by virtue of the very
early lever watch by him which survives [no.1053]” (see op. cit. 1965, p. 143).

The rare and exceptionally early subsidiary dial, which indicates temperature, is dependent on a bi-metallic spiral which is similar to that first used by Larcum Kendall as a compensation device and purchased by Vulliamy when Kendall’s workshop was sold by auction in 1790. A watch by Emery, number 939, with identical dial and gold heart-shaped hands, is illustrated and described by Jonathan Betts in Antiquarian Horology, Winter 1996.

Francis Perigal, son of Francis Perigal (active 1741-1770) was apprenticed to his father in 1748. He worked in the family business on 9 Threadneedle Street, Royal Exchange, from about 1770 to the time of his death in 1794. He was admitted as honorary Freeman of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1781, and made Watchmaker to the King in 1784. Little is known of Perigal, but the few surviving watches bearing his name are of
considerable mechanical interest and fine quality.