Prince & Cattles, York

• Movement: gilded full plate movement, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock, diamond endstone, Bosley's form of regulation, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars, signed Prince and Cattles, York, 909
• Dial: white enamel, small central dial indicating standard time with Arabic numerals for viewing through case front aperture, outer chapter ring for ship's watches or ‘bells’
• Case: plain silver, glazed aperture to the front, the back with engraved crest and W beneath an engraved dedication: 'Given to Roger Pierce for Good Conduct', Regency pendant and bow, case back and cover hallmarked Chester 1814 and with maker's mark incuse BM

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, pp. 354-355, pl. 227

Movement running at time of cataloguing, winding and hand setting operational. Dial with a scratch towards the edge of the dial between 2 and 3 o'clock. Central time calibrations are worn with parts of the minute ring rubbed away. Minute hand is pink in colour, hour hand is golden. Case with light scuffs, indentation to edge of cover around 4 o'clock, small indentation to case back beneath the pendant.
"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."

On board ship, the ‘watch’ or duty period is split up into periods of four hours. A bell is struck for each half hour of the four hour period, accruing from 1 strike for the first half
hour to eight for the final half hour. The dial of the present watch has a conventional time dial to its centre, with the outer edge calibrated for the ship’s bells and the number of strikes required for each hour displayed. The watch has a half-hunting style cover through which the smaller standard time dial can be viewed. The crest to the case back is one of the Willoughby de Broke (Verney) family crests, a demi-bear. The engraved dedication suggests that Roger Pierce was an employee who had served his master well.

Prince and Cattles is recorded at York between 1781 and 1827.