English repeating verge watch for the Ottoman market Circa 1796

Gold enamel open faced pocket watch by Markwick Markham & Perigal
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A very fine English quarter repeating pair-cased gold enamel verge pocket watch for the Ottoman market, circa 1796.
Two cases: outer case – 18 carat gold and polychrome enamel on a light green ground, the edges decorated with flowers, the back side with an exquisite polychrome miniature painting of military instruments on a round medallion, à goutte, large outer hinge, case maker’s punch mark “PA”, rear bell; inner case – 18 carat gold, florally engraved and pierced edges, the back side with an engraved flower in the centre.
Signed enamel dial with radial Ottoman numerals and gold Poker & Beetle hands.
Full plate movement, keywind, applied florally engraved ornaments, firegilt, signed, with chain/fusee, 2 hammers, solid movement pillars, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance and very finely engraved pierced balance cock.
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Diameter: 59 mm
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Weight: 138 g
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Signed: Markwick Markham & Perigal, London
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James Markwick, Markwick Markham & Perigal
James Markwick and his son James were both fine watchmakers and worked in London. The elder was apprenticed on 25 June 1656 to Richard Taylor, and subsequently to Edward Gilpin. He became free of the Clockmakers Company on 6 August 1666. Six apprentices were bound to him between 1674 and 1699. In 1673 he succeeded the business of Samuel Betts behind the Royal Exchange. Although he held office in the Clockmakers Company, he was irregular in attendance, ceasing to tend to its affairs after 1700. He worked until at least 1706.

His son, James Markwick Jr., became free of the Company in 1692 by patrimony. The younger James Markwick was an eminent maker, Master of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1720 and a very early user of jewelled bearings. In later years he was in partnership with his son-in-law Robert Markham, who succeeded him using the trading name of Markwick Markham, which became famous for watches destined for the Turkish market. Not only did this notoriety encourage the appearance of spuriously signed watches, but at the end of the century Markham, or his successor, associated the names of other watchmakers with their own products intended for the East.

The makers thus found associated are: Francis Perigal, Peter Upjohn, H. Story, Borrell, John Johnson, Louis Recordon, Dupont. All were reputable watch-makers in their own right, selling other products under their own names. Francis Perigal (also Perrigal) was active from about 1770 to the time of his death in 1794. He was admitted as honorary freeman of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1781. A maker of fine and interesting watches, he made a very early lever watch which, having been recased, can only be dated by the signature: “Watchmaker to the King”. This appointment was conferred upon him in1784. Little is known of Perigal, but the few surviving watches bearing his name are of considerable mechanical interest and of fine quality. He was succeeded in business by his son.