Lot 76
  • 76

Barraud, London

Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • A HISTORIC SILVER PAIR CASED POCKET CHRONOMETER1806, NO. 386
  • silver, gilt metal
  • diameter 62 mm
• gilt full plate movement, Earnshaw type spring detent escapement with Harrison's maintaining power, free-sprung Pennington 'double L' balance, blued steel helical spring, plain balance cock with diamond endstone, fusee and chain • white enamel dial, Roman numerals, large subsidiary seconds dial, gold spade hands, blued steel seconds hand • plain silver cases, the outer case with Barraud's watch paper, hallmarked London, 1806, both with maker's mark TG for Thomas Gibbard dial signed and numbered, movement signed Barraud London, No. 386

Provenance

Captain -later Vice Admiral-Josiah Cramer
[Captain -later Rear Admiral- Jorsell Leigh - per watch paper]

Literature

Cedric Jagger, "Paul Philip Barraud", The Antiquarian Horological Society, (1968), p.120
Cedric Jagger," Paul Philip Barraud, The Supplement", The Antiquarian Horological Society, (1979), p.232.

Catalogue Note

Cedric Jagger, in his book on Paul Philip Barraud, notes the following taken from the Barraud testimonials: [From] No 6 Tenterden Street, 20th February 1816.  "Captain Cramer sends Mr Barraud his Chronometer, 386, which he thinks will want cleaning; it being ten years since it has been touched. Capt. C. begs to inform Mr. B. that that watch does him the greatest credit possible, as, during the whole time he has used it, it has never once failed, and in bringing home the West-India Convoy, it made the Scilly Islands to a mile."  Josiah Cramer (1773-1850) was appointed Lieutenant in 1800, Commander 1802, Captain 1806, Rear Admiral 1841 and Vice Admiral in 1849.

The outer case contains a Barraud's watch paper. In 1971, the watch was seen in Rhodesia and at that time it was also noted that the Barraud's watch paper was present. To the reverse of the paper is a handwritten inscription as follows: "Captain Jorsell Leigh - Rh - Broadwell House, Gloucestershire 1841."  Jorsell Leigh was born February 1790, was made a Captain in June 1829 and a Rear Admiral in July 1855.

Paul Philip Barraud was born in London, December 5th, 1752 of Huguenot lineage. He was admitted to the Clockmakers' Company in 1796 and elected master in 1810 and 1811. According to Tony Mercer, Chronometer Makers of the World, he and his sons made over one thousand chronometers before his death in 1820. He used Arnold and Earnshaw type detent escapements and Pennington type balances, once they were introduced. With the help of William Howells and George Jamison, he was able to offer a simplified version of the Mudge chronometers, Green and Blue, to the Admiralty at a price of 90 guineas. His firm was supplied by outside specialists such as Thomas Earnshaw.