Thomas Hally, London

• Movement: gilded full plate, cylinder escapement, decoratively pierced balance cock engraved with foliage, birds' and dolphins' heads, a mask at the neck, broad foot similarly decorated, three-arm steel balance, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars, hammers repeating on a bell to the inside case back, the quarters sounded by a single blow from the quarter hammer, gilded dust cap, signed and numbered Thos. Hally, London, No. 1497, dust cap further engraved 1753
• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, blued steel beetle and poker hands
• Cases: silver inner, slide beneath bezel at 8 o'clock to select repetition for either hours only or hours and quarters, the band pierced and engraved with a bird, a dog, two dolphins' heads, a walled town beneath the pendant and a grotesque mask at the base, pendant with ridged edged bow • the silver outer case with similarly pierced decoration, the back centred with the engraved arms of John Carmichael, pulse piece to the band below 6 o'clock, both cases with maker's mark AM incuse with star between possibly for Andrew Moreton

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, pp. 206-207, pl. 117

Movement will just run for very short periods and very intermittently at time of cataloguing. Not currently repeating, the train engages and starts to run when the pendant is depressed but it is not striking the bell. Bell is slightly loose and the screw fixture continuously turns rather than tightening. Dial in good overall condition. Cases in good overall condition, catch to outer case slightly loose.
"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."

The pierced and engraved decoration to the case of this watch is exceptionally well executed and there is an especially characterful grotesque mask to the base of the inner case. To the back of the outer case, the arms, which are elaborately rendered, are those of John Carmichael (1701-1767), third Earl of Hyndford, a successful Scottish diplomat who was an envoy to Russia, Prussia and Vienna. Carmichael was also the Sheriff of Lanark from 1739 and a member of the Privy Council in 1750. The King of Prussia presented Carmichael with a silver dinner service and he was permitted to use the Royal Prussian Arms.  

Although little has been written about Thomas Hally, he was a maker of both clocks and watches and it would appear that he was well connected to the Scottish aristocracy. Several clocks by Hally are owned by the Duke of Atholl at Blair Castle and a further long case clock by this maker is at the House of the Binns, the seat of the Dalyell family. Unusually the movement has a slide to the bezel at 8 o'clock for selecting the type of repetition required: when the slide is in the upward position, the watch strikes the hours with a double blow and the quarters with a single blow, whilst in the downward position, only the hours are sounded.