Fromanteel & Clarke

• Movement: gilded full plate, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and floral engraved balance cock, a mask at the neck with short streamers, silver locking plate visible to the backplate, plain flat balance, fusee and chain, Egyptian and turned baluster pillars, signed Fromanteel & Clarke
• Dial: silver-gilt champlevé, Roman numerals with half hour divisions between and to the ring beneath, outer Arabic minute ring, the centre with two cartouches flanked by scrolling foliage and signed Fromanteel & Clarke, blued steel beetle and poker hands
• Cases: silver-gilt inner case, the band pierced and engraved with flowers, foliage and birds, a grotesque mask beneath the pendant, the back with winding apertures for going and striking trains, ring bow and pendant • outer silver-gilt case with similar pierced and engraved decoration to bezel and band and with case maker's mark IB with coronet above, probably for John Banbury

The Edward Hornby Collection, Sotheby's London, 1st December 1978, Lot 42

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 137, pl. 68

Movement running for short periods at time of cataloguing striking very intermittently, however, the movement does appear to be complete. The bell has wear and significant enlarging around the winding holes and the post to which it is attached is worn the inside case back. Dial has been cleaned and refreshed and the signatures are very worn. Pierced and engraved decoration with some rubbing to the decoration and some small areas of loss to the gilding. Ring pendant and bow has been changed since the Hornby sale at Sotheby's in 1978.
"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."

This watch was part of the famous collection of Rare and Important Watches, assembled by Edward Hornby and dispersed at Sotheby’s on 1^st December, 1978.

The makers’ signatures are signed to the backplate in capital letters rather than the more traditional script style of signature. By this period, block lettering was beginning to be used by several makers, including Tompion and Banger. Ahasuerus Fromanteel the Younger and Christopher Clarke began a partnership in circa 1680 to form the firm of Fromanteel & Clarke.  Fromanteel came from a family of distinguished watch and clockmakers and worked in both London and Amsterdam.  He earned his Freedom from the Clockmakers’ Company in 1672.  Clarke, a British ex-patriate who resided in Amsterdam, married Fromanteel's daughter in 1694. Clocks and watches signed ‘Fromanteel & Clarke’ were sometimes manufactured in Amsterdam, and sold both there and in London.  Their partnership ended in 1703 when Fromanteel died, Clarke continued to work, forming a partnership with Fromanteel's younger brother, Abraham.