English gilt brass Grande Sonnerie coach watch Circa 1780

An important enamel watch for the Chinese market
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An important and unique Grande Sonnerie enamel coach watch for the Chinese market, made by Timothy  Williamson, in London, England, circa 1780. This coach watch features a gilt brass case which is set with decorative stones on both sides, a pierced back and two openings in the tendrils for winding the barrels through the bell. The luxury 18^th century, white enamel dial features black Roman and Arabic numerals for the outer 5 minutes track and the inner hour track, gold hour and minute hands, a long steel center seconds hand with an open circular counterweight that sweeps across the outer ring of individual dots with  5 to 60 Arabic numeral markings and a striking bezel ring set with vibrant red gemstones.
The numbered movement is equipped with an original English cylinder escapement, grande sonnerie, a splendidly decorated plate, quarter hour self strike on bell and a huge diamond end stone.
The brass edge assembly often called the under dial plate and movement are numbered and signed.

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Diameter: 140 mm
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Weight: 1.850 g
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Signed: Timy Williamson London
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Williamson

The name Williamson holds a long and highly diverse history in British pocket watchmaking, spanning from the 17^th century astronomical masterpieces to massive 20^th century military mass production. Because several unrelated makers shared the name “Williamson”, the watches represent entirely different eras of horological history.

Timothy Williamson, active between approximately 1769 and 1788, worked primarily out of Fleet Street, London, where he carved out a lucrative niche as a maker of hyper luxury “automata” clocks and exquisite pocket watches.

• The Imperial Chinese Market: He specialised in crafting highly decorative, musical and automated timepieces adorned with enamel, gold and pearls.
• The Palace Collection: His lavish pocket watches and coach watches were highly prized by the Chinese elite, and several of his pieces remain a part of the permanent imperial collection at the Beijing Palace Museum.

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The special feature of the coach clock presented here is the magnificently enamelled case set with jewels. The entire edge is decorated with multicoulored paillons inlaid on a blue background. No other carriage clock for the Chinese market in this design appears to exist.

The dial shows a recognisable residual part of the Chinese lunar calendar and scratches from the calendar hand, which is missing.