William Wood, Liverpool

• Movement: gilded skeletonised, English lever escapement, jewelled to the fusee, the bridges decorated with foliate engraving and incorporating Masonic symbols of divider and square, pierced cock and mainspring barrel, bi-metallic compensation balance, fusee and chain, signed and numbered William Wood, 69 Lord Street, Liverpool, Thos Dunn's Patent, no. 7480, glazed case back, glazed cuvette with apertures for winding and hand-set
• Dial: skeletonised, white enamel chapter ring with Roman numerals, outer minute/seconds ring, two subsidiary dials for day and date, blued steel fleur-de-lis hands and centre seconds
• Case: plain gold bezels, ribbed band, glazed display back, round pendant and bow, pendant hallmarked and with rubbed maker's mark possibly Robert Rowlands

Antiquorum Geneva, The Art of British Horology, 21st October 1995, lot 215

Movement running at time of cataloguing and bridges in attractive condition. The date dial with hairline crack running through the centre, small semi-circular hairline to main chapter ring between 5 and 6 o'clock, further hairlines to chapter ring between 1 and 2 o'clock and 9 and 10 o'clock. Maker's mark to pendant rubbed.
"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 impressive skeletonised calendar watch was made according to Thomas Dunn’s Patent. The provisional specification of Dunn’s Patent was dated 17th May, 1861 and numbered 1257, with the patent itself filed on 15th November, 1861. Within the patent it is written: "Watches are formed with glass cases over the inner works to keep out the dirt, and the inner framework is so lightened that nearly the whole of the works may be seen at any time, in order to detect small particles of dirt, before they injure the works."  A third part of the patent refers to the fitting of a "double shank working on a swivel" to watches "so that a neck guard and a short guard may be used together." This pendant, with a double bow and shown in figure 1 of the patent, is not incorporated in the present watch. The present watch, however, has a calendar whereas the patent does not. While the patent is without the engraving, other features and layout of the movement are identical.

A similar skeletonised movement by William Wood, also made according to Dunn’s patent, was examined by the Antiquarian Horology's Scottish section on 4^th March, 1987 at Lauriston castle, Scotland. For a report of the visit, an illustration of the movement and part of the Dunn patent, see: Antiquarian Horology, No. 6, Vol. 16, June 1987, pp. 593-594, figs 6 & 7.