- 50
Benjamin Webb, London
Estimate
4,000 - 7,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- A SILVER PAIR CASED VERGE WATCH WITH COMPASS MADE ACCORDING TO JOHN PECKHAM'S PATENT1799, NO. 99
- Silver
- diameter 60 mm
• Movement: gilded full plate movement, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars • dial and movement signed Benj. Webb, London, By the King’s Patent, movement numbered 99
• Dial: white enamel dial, subsidiary time dial with Roman numerals and outer minute ring, gold arrow hands, sunken subsidiary dial for compass below with blued steel hand • dial signed signed B. Webb, London, By the King’s Patent
• Case: plain silver cases, the inner case hallmarked 1799 and with maker’s mark NTW in cameo for Nicholas Thomas Wood, outer case with rubbed hallmark which appears to read 1816 to inside of bezel, pendant hallmarked 1816 compass locking slide to bezel
• Dial: white enamel dial, subsidiary time dial with Roman numerals and outer minute ring, gold arrow hands, sunken subsidiary dial for compass below with blued steel hand • dial signed signed B. Webb, London, By the King’s Patent
• Case: plain silver cases, the inner case hallmarked 1799 and with maker’s mark NTW in cameo for Nicholas Thomas Wood, outer case with rubbed hallmark which appears to read 1816 to inside of bezel, pendant hallmarked 1816 compass locking slide to bezel
Literature
Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 319, pl. 200
Condition
Movement running at time of cataloguing. Compass not currently functioning correctly although locking slide does appear to be active. Dial with some scratches, case with light scuffs. The outer case fits the inner case extremely well, the slide matches up to the compass locking pin, however the hallmark to the bezel of the outer case, although rubbed, does appear to be for 1816, the same year as the pendant so it would appear that these were replacements made relatively soon after the watch's original manufacture.
"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."
"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
It is possible that one or two makers, in addition to Benjamin Webb, took up Peckham’s patent, however, perhaps fewer than a dozen of these watches survive. John Peckham
stated in his patent no. 2280 of 1798 that his was “A new and improved method of constructing a watch so as to unite it with a mariner’s compass”. His idea was to “substitute for those works which are usually made of steel, which are near enough to effect in the smallest degree the free action of the magnetic needle, works made of gold, silver, or any other metal or admixture of metals which have no influence on the
magnetic needle”. The movement includes several parts, which one would normally expect to be of steel, that are of brass, in particular the screws, but, of course the balance spring, fusee chain and arbors have to be steel.
stated in his patent no. 2280 of 1798 that his was “A new and improved method of constructing a watch so as to unite it with a mariner’s compass”. His idea was to “substitute for those works which are usually made of steel, which are near enough to effect in the smallest degree the free action of the magnetic needle, works made of gold, silver, or any other metal or admixture of metals which have no influence on the
magnetic needle”. The movement includes several parts, which one would normally expect to be of steel, that are of brass, in particular the screws, but, of course the balance spring, fusee chain and arbors have to be steel.
F.J. Britten in Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers notes a watch by Benjamin Webb with compass patented by John Peckham. Webb was made an honorary Freeman of the
Clockmakers’ Company in 1787, he was registered at 21 St. John Square in 1778-1790 and 3 Red Lion Street 1806-1810 (see op. cit. ACC Edition, p. 504).