Daniel Quare, London
A fine, rare and large silver pair cased quarter repeating two-train coach watch with alarm, the case engraved with the arms of the Duke of Luxembourg Circa 1690, no. 609
Auction Closed
May 14, 02:23 PM GMT
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Daniel Quare, London
A fine, rare and large silver pair cased quarter repeating two-train coach watch with alarm, the case engraved with the arms of the Duke of Luxembourg
Circa 1690, no. 609
• Movement: two-train gilded full plate, verge escapement, flat three-arm balance with short spring, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock and foot with a shell at the neck, diamond end-stone, silver regulation plate, fusee and chain, decoratively engraved barrel for alarm train, two polished steel hammers for repeat, two further hammers for alarm, all striking a bell mounted to inside case back, turned baluster pillars, signed Daniel Quare, Fecit, Londini, gilt-metal dust cap signed Dan. Quare, London
• Dial: silver champlevé dial, Roman numerals filled with black wax, interspersed by half hour markers, outer minute ring, blued steel hands, the tail of the tulip-form hour hand indicating to an inner silver alarm disc with Arabic numerals, female setting square for alarm time at 5 o'clock
• Cases: silver inner case, band pierced for sound emission and decoratively engraved with birds, dolphins and the heads of fantastical beasts, a mask to the base, plunge pendant for repeat, pulse piece at 4.30, numbered 609 beneath pendant • outer case with pierced roundels for sound emission and centred with engravedarms of the Duke of Luxembourg surrounded by laurel wreath border with entwined banners engraved Duc de Luxembo. et de Pine. François de Montmorenc., square hinge, case maker's mark GI incuse
diameter 85mm
The arms are those of François Henri de Montmorency-Bouteville (1628-1695), Duc de Piney-Luxembourg. His father, François de Montmorency-Bouteille (1600-1627), was executed for killing the Marquis de Beuvron in a duel six months before his birth and he was subsequently raised by his aunt, Charlotte Marguerite de Montmorency, Princess de Condé. In 1661 François Henri married the great French heiress, Madeleine Charlotte de Clermont-Tonnerre, Duchess de Luxembourg-Piney. François Henri became one of Louis XIV's most important Generals, winning many important battles. He died at Versailles in 1695.
Daniel Quare (1649-1724) was born in Somerset. One of the finest makers of his period, Quare was admitted to the Clockmakers' Company as a Free Brother in 1671, becoming Warden in 1705 and Master in 1708. A great horological innovator, it is believed that Quare first began developing repeating watches around 1680. During this period, Edward Barlow (1636-1716) was progressing his own repeating system. Barlow's system relied on two pushers (one for the hours and one for the quarters) while Quare's was the more convenient, working from a single pusher only. Barlow commissioned Thomas Tompion to produce a watch with his repeating system that could be presented before the Privy Council in order to apply for a patent. In March 1687, repeating watches by Quare and Barlow/Tompion were presented before the Privy Council; following examination of both watches, the King gave his preference to Quare's system.
Quare was well connected, and his reach extended across much of Europe, a fact borne out by the impressive wedding guest lists of his children which included noble families and envoys from around Europe. Quare was also favoured by the King but his strict beliefs as a Quaker prevented him from taking the Oath of Allegiance which would otherwise have allowed him to accept the commission of Royal Clockmaker, a position offered to him by King George I.