Charles Frodsham, London

• Movement: gilded frosted three-quarter plate movement, ratchet tooth lever escapement, bi-metallic compensation balance, diamond endstone, signed Chas. Frodsham, 84 Strand, London, no. 05521 AD FMSZ
• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, four subsidiary dials for months/leap year indication, date, day and subsidiary seconds combined with aperture for moon-phases, outer minute ring, blued steel spade hour, minute and seconds hands, gold hands for calendar indications
• Case: gold with polished covers and double stepped bezels, the front with the arms and crest of J. Court, Staveley, 4 adjusters beneath the inner bezel for calendar/moon adjustment, gold hand-set button with olivette to the band, polished gold cuvette engraved J. Court, Staveley, case and cuvette hallmarked for 18ct gold, London 1877 and with maker's mark AS for Alfred Stram 

With a 9ct gold mounted citrine seal engraved with the Court crest.

Sotheby's London, 3rd June 1994, lot 75

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 413, pl. 265
Vaudrey Mercer, The Frodshams - The Story of a Family of Chronometer Makers, 1981, p. 255

Movement running at time of cataloguing and all calendar functions appear to be advancing correctly, however, the leap year function has not been tested. Dial with some very small and feint hairlines between the subsidiary dials. Case in good overall condition with some light polishing.
"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."

Accompanied by a Charles Frodsham Certificate of Origin confirming that the movement of this watch was supplied by Garnish on 20th August, 1877.

An extremely handsome perpetual calendar watch, this is an impressive, heavy and tactile watch. The design of the dial is wonderfully clear with each month of the 4 year perpetual calendar cycle individually calibrated and further substantial subsidiary dials for day, date and subsidiary seconds with separate arc for moon age.

In 1843, Charles Frodsham bought the firm J.R. Arnold, re-naming the business Arnold and Frodsham. This was a bold move as it set him up at 84 Strand. He retained the double name until 1858 when the firm Charles Frodsham, 84 Strand, was officially established. Through his many publications and timepieces, Frodsham dedicated himself to the exploration and improvement of timekeeping in its many forms, achieving acclaim for his work from chronometers to barometers. The Frodsham balance, which was designed for phenomenal accuracy, can be found in carriage clocks and some mantel clocks dating to as early as 1851. Frodsham became free of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1845 and Master of the Company in 1855. He served as Master of the Company for a second time in 1862, that same year he was elected Vice-President of the British Horological Institute, of which he was one of the original members. In 1855 he won the Gold Medal of Honour at the Paris Exhibition. In 1862 he was awarded the Medal of Honour for his service as a juror at the Great International Exhibition in South Kensington. He continued to achieve recognition at exhibitions from Russia to Paris. Charles Frodsham excelled at his art until his death in January, 1871, at the age of 60. Upon Charles’s death, his son, Harrison Mill Frodsham, took charge of the firm and incorporated it in 1893 as Charles Frodsham & Co. Ltd. Harrison Mill Frodsham proved to be an able horologist and businessman and the firm continued to flourish as a maker of fine timepieces.