- 69
Carley & Clemence, London
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Carley & Clemence, London
- A VERY RARE AND UNUSUAL SILVER OPEN-FACED KEYLESS WATCH WITH ANNULAR TOURBILLON BY ANDREW TAYLOR1903, NO. 51613
- Silver
- diameter 59mm
• Movement: gilded half-plate, 52 1/2 minute revolving carriage with lever escapement, bi-metallic compensation balance, free-sprung spiral spring with double overcoil, signed and numbered Carley & Clemence, 30 Ely Place, London E.C., no. 51613 and with Admiralty broad arrow, ebauche with maker's mark AT for Andrew Taylor to dial side of pillar plate
• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary seconds, blued steel hands, signed and numbered and with Admiralty broad arrow
• Case: plain silver, the back with Admiralty broad arrow, hallmarked London 1903 and with maker's mark C & Co in oval cameo for Carley & Clemence Ltd, bezel, cuvette, mid-case and case back all numbered 3
• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring, subsidiary seconds, blued steel hands, signed and numbered and with Admiralty broad arrow
• Case: plain silver, the back with Admiralty broad arrow, hallmarked London 1903 and with maker's mark C & Co in oval cameo for Carley & Clemence Ltd, bezel, cuvette, mid-case and case back all numbered 3
Literature
Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 438, pl. 283
Condition
Movement running at time of cataloguing and handsetting operational. Signature and numbering to dial is worn but the dial appears to be in otherwise good condition with small scratch to subsidiary seconds dial. Glass is very loose, case 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."
"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
In the early 1890s, Danish watchmaker Bahne Bonniksen, working in Coventry, England, developed the karrusel revolving carriage for the escapement in order to eliminate errors of rate in vertical positions. Patented in 1893 (English Patent No. 21421), Bonniksen described his invention as: "a watch as robust as any ordinary English watch and nearly as precise as an atmospheric regulator or marine chronometer." The following year, 1894, saw the entry of karrusel watches at the Kew Observatory timing trials for the first time, significantly, all achieved marks above 80 out of 100. And in 1896, karrusels came top both at Kew and at the Royal Observatory's Admiralty Deck watch trials [see research by C. Woodward reported by S. B. de Save for Antiquarian Horology, No. 6, Vol. 29, December 2006]. Andrew Taylor was working in Coventry and clearly saw the potential of the karrusel and patented his 'annular' tourbillon in September 1895. The name 'annular' is derived from the patentee's description in which he refers to the ring of the interior cut teeth fitted to the pillar plate as an 'annular wheel'. Although based on similar principles, the annular tourbillon was more expensive to produce than its rival, the karrusel, and was not a commercial success. Nevertheless, clearly the Admiralty were impressed by the performance of Taylor's movements, our research suggests that the few that survive were all marked with the Admiralty broad arrow and include:
No. 51609 - hallmarked 1903, singed by Carley & Clemence, formerly in the George Daniels collection - sold, Sotheby's London, 6th November 2012, lot 111
No. 51612 - sequentially the number preceding the present watch, but signed by George Rossiter. Illustrated in Antiquarian Horology, Malcolm Gardner advertisement, No. 6, Vol. 6, March 1970, p. 329.
No. 51619 - signed by Carley & Clemence, residing at the British Museum. Illustrated in Anthony Randall and Richard Good, Catalogue of Watches in the British Museum, Vol. VI (1990). Mentioned in the Admiralty trials at the Royal Observatory in 1912
No. 51620 - mentioned in the Admiralty trials at the Royal Observatory in 1912
Carley & Clemence was a business partnership between George Carley and Josef Auguste Clemence and the firm supplied a variety of different watches to the Admiralty.