English silver verge watch by Tomas Tompion Circa 1700

Kenmerk: FB0117
Diameter: 51 mm

Estimate: € 3.500 - 6.000
Price sold: € 4.600

Silver verge watch
–
An English pocket watch in associated silver and painted horn consular case by Thomas Tompion , circa 1700. Gilt movement signed Thomas Tompion, balance cock finely pierced and engraved with acanthus leaf scrolling, silver Arabic regulation, verge escapement and fusee, plates separated by tulip pillars, pillar plate stamped with batch number ‘360’ between the barrel and fusee,
Later white enamel dial with finely painted black Roman numerals bordered by outer Arabic divisions at five-minute intervals, steel beetle and poker hands.
Horn case with painted ferns and swivel bow marked EB beneath the coronet and large retaining spring are later additions and probably of continental manufacture. Movement signed.
–
Diameter: 51 mm
–
Signed: Thomas Tompion London
–

This watch can be found listed on p.91 of Jeremy Evans “Thomas Tompion; at the Dial and Three Crowns”, 2006, which refers to a ‘for sale advert’ in the 1934 edition of the Horological Journal.

Scratched markings to the dial plate indicate the dial may have been replaced up to three times, the style of the current dial and case suggest the last modifications to the movement were carried out during the late 18th century.

Though the exact significance of the number stamped on the underside of the pillar plate is unknown, current research suggests it may be a reference to a ‘batch’ number. Unfortunately at present, too few examples of these ‘batch’ numbers have been discovered and recorded to prove this conclusively.

Signed: Thomas Tompion London