English gilt metal and enamel double cased verge watch Circa 1790

large double cased watch
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A large English double cased open faced watch in gilt metal and painted enamel, made for the Chinese market, depicting The Chinese Rooster on the back, circa 1790. Full plate gilt key wound movement with verge escapement, plain flat three arm balance, large open worked and engraved cock decorated with flowers and foliage, the foot similarly decorated, balance spring, fusee and chain, adjustment disc, cylindrical pillars, signed and numbered Tim. Williamson London.

White enamel dial with Roman numerals for the hours, outer minute track in Arabic numerals,  gilt poker and beetle hands.
Round hinged gilt case, double cased, the outer case in gilt metal and guilloché, the centre of the back with a polychrome enamel painted rooster in farmland, the inner case in plain gilt metal, plain pendant, the bail chased and engraved with leaves, maker’s mark with maker’s mark TH and numbered.
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Diameter 101 mm
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Signed: Timothy Williamson, London
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Timothy Williamson, English clockmaker for the Chinese market

Timothy Williamson was a British clockmaker active in the late 18th century, recorded as active in London from around 1769 to 1788. Known for his designs for the Chinese market. His main works were watches and clocks, distinguished by their exceptional quality and their adaptation to the aesthetic tastes of the Chinese clientele of the time.

Characteristics of Timothy Williamson’s designs

Design and aesthetics: Williamson’s pieces were often decorated with elaborate enamel paintings, depicting scenes inspired by Chinese culture or European motifs adapted to local preferences. These refined decorations demonstrate his attention to detail and his commitment to satisfying the expectations of his Chinese customers.

Sophisticated Mechanisms: As a renowned watchmaker, Williamson incorporated highly precise movements into his watches and clocks, ensuring reliability and durability that were appreciated by collectors and users of the time.

Notable examples of work for the Emperors of China

Timothy Williamson trained as a goldsmith and produced a number of elaborate watches and clocks for the Chinese market, perhaps in collaboration with William Hughes.

A carriage watch attributed to Timothy Williamson, dating from around 1780, is a perfect example of his work for the Chinese market. This piece features detailed enamel painting and a complex mechanism, reflecting Williamson’s expertise in watchmaking and his adaptation to the aesthetic tastes of imperial China.

The Forbidden City Collections at the Palace of the Emperors of China in Beijing houses a spectacular musical clock by Timothy Williamson that incorporates a figurine with an automaton representing a man dressed in period clothing, most likely made by Jaquet-Droz.