John Kentish, Jr, London

• Movement: gilded full plate, cylinder escapement, applied pierced and engraved foliate decoration surrounding the matching large balance cock, steel balance, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, sun and planet maintaining power, baluster pillars, gilt-metal dust cap, the stop lever acting on balance amplitude control pin, movement and dust cap signed and numbered John Kentish Jun^r, No. 1073
• Dial: white enamel, subsidiary dial for time with Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, blued steel beetle and poker hands, gold centre seconds indicating to outermost Arabic ring, signed John Kentish Jun^r, London
• Case: gold, the back centred by an enamel plaque with polychrome enamel painted crest of Evelyn Pierrepont, the panel surrounded by cross palm fronds and a tied ribbon in imperial blue basse-taille enamel within engine turning and bordered by white enamel, both bezels decorated with translucent blue enamel flowers and foliage interspersed by white enamel fronds, winding shutter to the border of the enamel plaque with lever adjacent to hinge, stop slide beneath the bezel adjacent to 20 second numeral, case hallmarked 1770 and with maker's mark RP incuse probably for Richard Palmer

Sotheby's London, Chester Beatty Collection, 3rd December 1962, lot 56
Antiquorum Geneva, 11th October 2003, lot 59

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 239, pl. 146

Movement running at time of cataloguing but may benefit from a clean and service. Dial appears to be in good condition. Scratches to the case back plaque, some small areas of loss to blue enamel most noticeably to right hand palm frond. Shutter for opening winding aperture is stiff and will need some adjustment.
"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 polychrome enamel painted crest to the case back is that of Evelyn Pierrepont (1711-1773), second Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull. Pierrepont was installed as a Knight of the Garter in 1741 and therefore the crest has the garter and motto with the royal crown above - the motto reads "Honi soit qui mal y pense" meaning "Shame on him who thinks this evil."  The Duke, whose seat was Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire, served with distinction in the Army and became a general in 1772. He was Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire and Steward of Sherwood Forest 1763-5. He 'married' the bigamous Elizabeth Chudleigh, the notorious 'Duchess of Kingston' who, in the late 1770s appears to have been instrumental in introducing James Cox to business in St. Petersburg (see: Yuna Zek & Roger Smith, Antiquarian Horology, No. 6, Vol. 28, June 2005, pp. 709-710). The enamel decorated case back has an ingeniously concealed winding shutter to the border of the central oval, this is opened via a catch by the hinge. 

John Kentish Junior is noted by Baillie, to have been active between 1758-74.  During the 1760s, he formed a partnership with John Adam Mangaar (1746-1809) and William Allman. The partnership was based at Storey's Gate, Westminster, London but was dissolved in 1772. In 1774 Kentish was declared bankrupt but continued to work as a watchmaker until 1798. [See: T. Proctor, Antiquarian Horology, No.2, Vol. 32, June 2010, p. 220.]