Charles Frodsham & Co

The present lot is a fine example of the Charles Frodsham/J.P. Morgan Caliber Tourbillon watch. No. 08’617 is one of approximately 25 pieces that were commissioned by John Pierpont Morgan to be given as gifts. The present lot was given to Henry Codman Potter (1834 - 1908), the seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, a prolific community leader who helped reinvigorate the Church and played a central role in the cultural transformation of the country. 

The full presentation inscription to the outer case back is particularly unusual and differs from most other known Morgan watches. Typically, the cuvette is engraved simply with J.P. Morgan’s initials, the gift recipient, and the year.

The outer case back is inscribed, “H.C.P. from J.P.M., October 20^th, 1883. October 20^th 1989. General Convention, Washington D.C.”

The first date, October 20^th, 1883 was Potter’s consecration date as the Assistant Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. He became Bishop of New York in 1897. The second date represents the XXXIX General Convention in Washington D.C, celebrating Bishop Potter’s 15 years of service with the Church. J.P. Morgan himself was a deputy of the General Convention and was a lifelong member and influential leader of the Episcopal Church.

The present lot was a testament to the intimate relationship between Mr. Potter and Mr. Morgan. Personal correspondence between the two gentlemen can be found at the Morgan Library, as well as an invitation addressed to J.P. Morgan to serve as a Pall Bearer for the Bishop's funeral services, dated 1 October, 1908. Facsimile copies of the above mentioned correspondence and invitation are included with the lot. The funeral, which took place on 20 October, was held with more than five hundred clergymen in procession, and all the pall bearers were leading citizens of New York.

Potter was a prolific community leader who became known as "the first citizen of New York," having served to address community growth, poverty, labour and social services, racial reform and more. Potter played an immeasurable role in fundraising and building of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Morningside Heights, New York City. Prominent figures donated to the construction of this Cathedral including J.P. Morgan, financiers John Jacob Astor IV, and William Waldorf Astor, and Entrepreneur Cornelius Vanderbilt. Today, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is the 7th largest Cathedral in the world. 

Sotheby’s is honored to offer the present lot on behalf of the descendants of Henry Codman Potter.

Charles Frodsham & Co. Ltd., one of the most renowned English watchmaking firms in the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1854, Charles Frodsham succeeded Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy as Superintendent and Keeper of Her Majesty’s Clocks at Buckingham Palace - to the King, The Prince of Wales, and Queen Alexandra.

The firm's association with the Morgan family began with Junius Morgan who became a business partner in the English branch of the banking house, George Peabody & Co., in 1854. The purchase and maintenance of fine clocks and watches for the Morgan family was continued by John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) who in 1883 presented a complicated watch to his personal valet George William on the occasion of his marriage. This watch was the forerunner to the most celebrated, and well known, of the Frodsham watches ordered by the Morgans, a series of state-of-the-art open face Tourbillons with minute repeating, split second chronograph, minute register and constant seconds.

Today the Charles Frodsham Company in London continues to make first quality precision timekeepers.

Of the known pieces just 12 have appeared in public auction:

08'616, The Esmond Bradley Collection, Sotheby’s New York, 22^ndOct 2002, lot 25

08’617 Property from the family of Henry Codman Potter, Sotheby’s New York, 9^th December 2022, (the present lot)

08'867, Antiquorum Hong Kong, 29^thMay 1989, lot 342

08'920, The Celebration of the English Watch, Sotheby's London, 15^th, Dec 2016, lot 57

08'921, Ineichen Zurcich, 3^rd Mar 1981, lot 44

09'636, Christies New York, 25^thOct 1994, lot 362

09'682, Sotheby’s New York, 10^thDec 2013, lot 68

09'777, Christies New York, 18^thApril 1984, lot 192

09'849, Christies New York, 28^thOct 1991, lot 360

09'857, Sotheby’s New York, 27^thOct 1997, lot 350

010'303, Christies New York, 26^thJun 1996, lot 140

010'330, Property From the Estate of Alexandra McCain Morgan, Sotheby’s New York 15^th, Dec 2020, lot 85

It is interesting to note that the present lot is the sister watch of No.08616, previously sold by Sotheby’s New York in The Esmond Bradley Collection, Oct 2002. 

For similar tourbillons by Charles Frodsham, see Meis, R., Das Tourbillon, 1986, p. 345 and Mercer, V., The Frodshams, 1981, p. 216

We are grateful to Charles Frodsham & Co, London, for their kind assistance in researching this lot.