Graham Successor

• Movement: gilded full plate, cylinder escapement, steel escape wheel, decoratively pierced balance cock engraved with foliage, a head at the neck, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars, striking a bell to the inside case back, signed and numbered Graham Succr., London, 976, bell scratch signed Drury
• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, blued steel beetle and poker hands
• Cases: silver inner, the band pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage, a grotesque mask at the base, numbered 976 beneath the plain pendant and bow • outer case with similarly pierced and engraved decoration to the bezels, pulse piece to the bezel between 5 and 6 o'clock, the back centred with elaborately engraved monogram, bezel with grotesque masks N, E, S and W, both cases with maker's mark TC in rectangular cameo for possibly Thomas Colley or Thomas Carpenter Senior

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 209, pl. 119

When George Graham died in 1751, his business was continued by two of his workmen, Samuel Barkley and Thomas Colley. Barkley died in 1753 leaving Colley to continue alone until he was joined about 10 years later by a new partner, John Priest. The watches were initially signed 'Graham Succrs.' then, for a while, 'Graham Succr.', as is the case with this watch.

For a note on George Graham see lot 17.