Lot 92
  • 92

WILLIAM ILBERY, LONDON | A MAGNIFICENT GOLD, ENAMEL, HARDSTONE AND SEED PEARL-SET CENTRE SECONDS DUPLEX WATCH MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKETCIRCA 1800, NO. 6119

Estimate
35,000 - 50,000 GBP
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Description

  • Ilbery
  • A MAGNIFICENT GOLD, ENAMEL, HARDSTONE AND SEED PEARL-SET CENTRE SECONDS DUPLEX WATCH MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKETCIRCA 1800, NO. 6119
  • length including pendant and terminal 108mm, width 66mm
• Movement: gilded and engraved with scrolls, flowers and foliage, duplex escapement, polished five-arm steel balance, diamond endstone, standing barrel, signed and numbered Ilbery, London, 6119 • Dial: white enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, gold moon hands, centre seconds• Case: pear-shaped, the gold frame inset with alternating shaped sections of moss agate and striated carnelian, the back centred with a hinged panel set with a single moss agate roundel, its bezel set with seed pearls, two red guilloché enamel escutcheons above, the pendant, bow and finial decorated with polychrome champlevé and guilloché enamel geometric and foliate motifs, similarly decorated terminal

Condition

Dial: Has been viewed only through the crystal, there are a few small scratches visible. Hardstone panels appear to be in good condition. Case:The lowest slim red enamel band of the pendant with some chips and losses. Movement: Not running at time of cataloguing but balance appears free.
"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

A very similar watch was sold at: Sotheby & Co: The Palace Collections of Egypt, 12th March, 1954, lot 560. For further watches by Ilbery which have cases of different shape to the present watch but which are decorated with panels in a similar manner, see: Sotheby's, Masterpieces from the Time Museum, 2 December 1999, lot 29 and Sotheby's, The Belin Collection, 29 November 1979, lot 98.  For a nearly identical Ilbery watch, No. 6117, see: Peter Friess, Patek Philippe Museum, p. 385, inv. no. S-114. William Ilbery succeeded his father John in the family business and became the leading partner of the firm, where he worked along with his brother James.  William was active from 1780 until his retirement in the mid-1840s.  While James travelled extensively to Canton as a representative of the firm, William ran the business predominantly from London.  He is best known for the production of luxury watches for the Chinese Market and arguably set the new fashion for all watches made for the Asian Market.  While William's father John usually made watches with a verge escapement, William favoured pieces  of Swiss manufacture with the traditional duplex escapement, as seen in the present lot.