DAVID LESTOURGEON, LONDON | A SILVER PAIR CASED EIGHT-DAY VERGE WATCH WITH SIX HOUR DIAL AND TORTOISESHELL OUTER CASECIRCA 1700

• Movement: gilded full plate, verge escapement, decoratively pierced balance cock engraved with scrolling foliage and an urn to the centre, silver regulation disc, crested Egyptian pillars, fusee and chain, signed David Lestourgeon, London• Dial: silver champlevé, Roman numerals for hours 1 to 6 each additionally calibrated with Arabic numerals to their centres for hours 7 to 12, outer ring with Arabic numerals 1-12, aperture for date with blued steel surround, dial centre with stippled ground and with chased and engraved scrolling banners, blued steel hands, signed Letvrgeon [sic] London• Case: plain silver inner, shuttered winding aperture to back, later stirrup-form pendant and bow • outer protective case with tortoiseshell covering, back and bezel secured with silver pins, case maker's mark JH possibly John Harbert or John Higgs

Sotheby's New York, Fine Watches from the Atwood Collection, 11 December 1986, lot 34

Dial: The dial has been refreshed in the past and with small scratches. Case: Inner case with depressions to the band as expected. Outer tortoiseshell case with a couple of hairline cracks. Movement: Running at time of catalgouing however, the hands are not currently advancing correctly. The date appears to be advancing correctly.
"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."

David Lestourgeon was admitted as a Free Brother of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1698 and is believed to have been working as late as 1731. Interestingly, research carried out by Clive Ponsford into the wills of watch and clockmakers held at the National Archives, shows that Lestourgeon was both a Watchmaker and Innholder [see: Antiquarian Horology, Vol. 30, No.4, December 2007, p. 525]. For a note on the use of the six hour dial, see lot 41.