- 40
George Margetts, London
Estimate
70,000 - 80,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- A VERY RARE AND FINE CYLINDER WATCH WITH TIDAL DIAL, ANNUAL CALENDAR AND ASTRONOMICAL INDICATIONS IN LATER CUSTOM MADE SILVER CASEMOVEMENT CIRCA 1783, NO. 312
- Silver, gilt metal
- diameter 66.5 mm
• Movement: gilded full plate, cylinder escapement with steel wheel, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock with classical bust to its neck, ruby endstone, fusee and chain with Harrison’s maintaining power • signed gilt metal dust cap engraved with an elephant and a pagoda within an Oriental landscape • movement and dust cap signed Geo. Margetts, London, movement numbered 312
• Dial: astronomical dial with white enamel ground, 16 gear train for dial indications advancing clockwise (except fixed mean time dial with Roman numerals, gold north indicator and two gold parallel parabolas) tidal dial indicating tides at eight English ports: Portsmouth, London, Hull, Yarmouth, Dover, Downs (a safe anchorage point in the English Channel), Plymouth and Dublin, the fixed moon hand indicating on the gold rim with four spokes the latitude of the planet together with its position in the Zodiac and declination in degrees on the nearest calibration of the main dial, one spoke to rim engraved with a dragon whose extended tail points to sign and degree of Zodiac marked on the middle calibration, dial edge with annual calendar read against sun hand which also indicates sun’s declination and position in the Zodiac, observer’s horizon indicated by tangential parabola, space between it and inner parabola is astronomical twilight zone, viewed in area of dial enclosed by them is rise, southing and fall of constellations, age of moon engraved on gold through circular aperture to tidal dial which also shows black spot for an eclipse - large for lunar and small for solar eclipses
• Case: later silver custom made case hallmarked 1813 and maker’s mark FC for Frederick Comtesse over possibly FHB (rubbed), pendant with maker’s mark M.A for Michael Atkins
• Dial: astronomical dial with white enamel ground, 16 gear train for dial indications advancing clockwise (except fixed mean time dial with Roman numerals, gold north indicator and two gold parallel parabolas) tidal dial indicating tides at eight English ports: Portsmouth, London, Hull, Yarmouth, Dover, Downs (a safe anchorage point in the English Channel), Plymouth and Dublin, the fixed moon hand indicating on the gold rim with four spokes the latitude of the planet together with its position in the Zodiac and declination in degrees on the nearest calibration of the main dial, one spoke to rim engraved with a dragon whose extended tail points to sign and degree of Zodiac marked on the middle calibration, dial edge with annual calendar read against sun hand which also indicates sun’s declination and position in the Zodiac, observer’s horizon indicated by tangential parabola, space between it and inner parabola is astronomical twilight zone, viewed in area of dial enclosed by them is rise, southing and fall of constellations, age of moon engraved on gold through circular aperture to tidal dial which also shows black spot for an eclipse - large for lunar and small for solar eclipses
• Case: later silver custom made case hallmarked 1813 and maker’s mark FC for Frederick Comtesse over possibly FHB (rubbed), pendant with maker’s mark M.A for Michael Atkins
Provenance
Lord Harris of Belmont
Antiquorum Geneva, The Sandberg Watch Collection, 31st March-1st April 2001, lot 143
Antiquorum Geneva, The Sandberg Watch Collection, 31st March-1st April 2001, lot 143
Literature
Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 280-281, pl. 172
Condition
Movement not running at time of cataloguing but appears to be complete. Dial with a few hairlines. Case in good condition with crisp engine turning to case back.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."
Catalogue Note
Although the present watch, no. 312, has a later silver case, it can be dated with a fair degree of certainty since a similar watch belonging to the Royal Institution (sadly stolen some years ago) is numbered 311 and hallmarked for 1783. Four or five astronomical watches of this type by Margetts are known, together with two large tripod mounted timepieces (nos. 341 & 342).
The late Dr George Daniels made a detailed examination of the Royal Institution’s astronomical watch, Margetts, no. 311 and published an illustrated article in Antiquarian Horology (No. 6, Vol. 6, March 1970). In his article, Daniels noted that although the astronomical information that Margetts’ watches gave was remarkably accurate, the watch’s usefulness would always have been limited due to the incorporation of the cylinder escapement which would inevitably have allowed considerable errors in mean time to accumulate.
It is not certain for whom these astronomical watches were intended, F. J. Britten in his book “Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers”, suggested that they were made as presentation pieces for captains within the East India Company. However, as George Daniels wrote: “It should be remembered that in the late 18th century navigation was a hotly discussed and fashionable scientific subject. The motions of the heavenly
bodies are basic to the subject and Margetts was, no doubt, astute enough to realise that watches would appeal to those gentlemen of scientific bent who could afford to indulge their fancy with an expensive oracle” (see op. cit. p. 351).
George Margetts was born in Woodstock, Oxfordshire on 17th June, 1748. It is thought that he was apprenticed as a clockmaker locally, perhaps working for the first 10 years of his career close to Woodstock. Margetts was made free of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1779, by which time he had presumably moved to London. He was elected to the Livery of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1799. Margetts, was a petitioner to the Board of Longitude on several occasions, with the goal to secure funds for his various projects that related to finding Longitude and improvements in astronomy. The Board did grant him some funding as did the East India Company. The latter he supplied with tables to assist navigators. Though little is known about his life, he remains remembered for his
astronomical watches and eight-day chronometers. Margetts died at home in 1804 after a time spent in St. Luke’s lunatic asylum. For further information on Margetts, see Anthony J Turner, “New Light on George Margetts”, Antiquarian Horology, vol. VII, no. 4, 1970, pp. 304-316 and Anthony G. Randall, The Time Museum Catalogue of Chronometers, 1992, pp. 234-240.
The late Dr George Daniels made a detailed examination of the Royal Institution’s astronomical watch, Margetts, no. 311 and published an illustrated article in Antiquarian Horology (No. 6, Vol. 6, March 1970). In his article, Daniels noted that although the astronomical information that Margetts’ watches gave was remarkably accurate, the watch’s usefulness would always have been limited due to the incorporation of the cylinder escapement which would inevitably have allowed considerable errors in mean time to accumulate.
It is not certain for whom these astronomical watches were intended, F. J. Britten in his book “Old Clocks and Watches and their Makers”, suggested that they were made as presentation pieces for captains within the East India Company. However, as George Daniels wrote: “It should be remembered that in the late 18th century navigation was a hotly discussed and fashionable scientific subject. The motions of the heavenly
bodies are basic to the subject and Margetts was, no doubt, astute enough to realise that watches would appeal to those gentlemen of scientific bent who could afford to indulge their fancy with an expensive oracle” (see op. cit. p. 351).
George Margetts was born in Woodstock, Oxfordshire on 17th June, 1748. It is thought that he was apprenticed as a clockmaker locally, perhaps working for the first 10 years of his career close to Woodstock. Margetts was made free of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1779, by which time he had presumably moved to London. He was elected to the Livery of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1799. Margetts, was a petitioner to the Board of Longitude on several occasions, with the goal to secure funds for his various projects that related to finding Longitude and improvements in astronomy. The Board did grant him some funding as did the East India Company. The latter he supplied with tables to assist navigators. Though little is known about his life, he remains remembered for his
astronomical watches and eight-day chronometers. Margetts died at home in 1804 after a time spent in St. Luke’s lunatic asylum. For further information on Margetts, see Anthony J Turner, “New Light on George Margetts”, Antiquarian Horology, vol. VII, no. 4, 1970, pp. 304-316 and Anthony G. Randall, The Time Museum Catalogue of Chronometers, 1992, pp. 234-240.