Richard Pendleton, London

• Movement: gilded full plate movement, straight line lever escapement, the lever with loop encircling the balance staff, double ‘S’ balance, decoratively pierced and engraved
balance bridge, diamond endstone • movement signed Richd. Pendleton, Pentonville, London, 180
• Dial: white regulator type dial, hour dial above with Arabic numerals, subsidiary seconds below, outer Arabic minute ring, blued steel hands
• Case: later polished silver case with double hinged case back, the inner cover with winding aperture and opening to reveal the movement, hallmarks rubbed

Courtney Ilbert, London
Cecil Clutton, London

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, pp. 314-315, pl. 197

Anthony G. Randall, The Time Museum Catalogue of Chronometers, 1992, pp. 163-165

Paul M. Chamberlain, Its About Time, 1978, pp. 38-39

Cecil Clutton and George Daniels, Watches, 1979, p. 121, see fig. 23 and fig. 173a-b

Cecil Clutton, Collector’s Collection, no. 14, 1974, pp. 42-43

Movement running at time of cataloguing. The dial is handsome and appears to be in good condition. Later silver case with light scuffs and some minor depressions to the back.
"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."

It is widely believed that Richard Pendleton made, or was atleast heavily involved in the construction of watches with lever escapements signed by Josiah Emery. Indeed, at the end of the 18th century, Thomas Mudge Junior wrote that Emery’s series of lever watches were made by Pendleton. The present lot, Pendleton no.180, is one of three known watches with lever escapements signed by Pendleton. The others are numbered
172 (now in the British Museum) and 175 (for which see detailed escapement illustration in The Camerer Cuss Book of Antique Watches, pp. 90, 156-157). Paul Chamberlain in “It’s About Time” writes how he studied Emery nos. 1289, 1057 and
1379 and also Pendleton nos. 172 and 180 and concluded “that they were all executed by the same artist” (see op. cit. 1978, pp. 38-39). In the movement of the present lot (Pendleton no. 180), the bridge cock and double ‘S’ balance are much the same as those signed by Emery, but the a the escapement design is different. The escape wheel and straight-line lever are lighter than in Emery’s watches; so as to reduce friction,
the impulse piece is set in a loop so that the action of impulse takes place on the far side of the balance staff to the lever and the escape wheel teeth are forked to hold oil.

Pendleton no. 175 is the only watch to retain its original case and is hallmarked for 1797. Josiah Emery died in 1794 and interestingly the dial of Pendleton no. 175 has had Emery’s name erased from the dial, although it is still just discernible. The current lot, being close in number to no. 175 may date as early as 1798, yet it is possible that Pendleton completed the watch over time – the style of dial, which is very different from Emery’s, with radial Arabic chapters and a pierced spade hour hand, suggests a period of production between the late 1790’s and perhaps 1810.