Late 17thc. London watch in attractive case

Stock No. 2095

Francis Stamper
London, c1685
Silver & tortoiseshell pair cases, 54 mm.
Verge escapement

Price £3950

Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London
Francis Stamper London

An early London verge, in a wonderful tortoiseshell case, inlaid with silver.

MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with a large and well engraved and pierced balance cock, showing foliage above a mask. The shape of the foot is typical of the period. Large silver regulator disk and four split tulip pillars (almost identical to those used by Thomas Tompion during this period).

Signed Fran. Stamper, London and numbered 651.

In good condition and running well.

DIAL : Fine silver champleve dial, signed as the movement.

In very good condition.

Steel beetle and poker hands.

INNER CASE : A plain silver case, with maker’s mark JH (conjoined) and movement bumber 651.

In good condition. The hinge is fine and the bezel snaps shut. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is fine.

OUTER CASE : Silver with tortoiseshell covering. Maker’s mark VB (conjoined). The shell is profusely inlaid with patterns of silver pins.

The shell is in good original condition, but there is an area of restoration at the centre of the back (about a square cm.). There is no shell missing and one crack from the edge of the back at 1 towards the centre.

The silver inlay has survived very well. On the back there are about 10% of the smaller pins missing and probably one larger ornamental pin missing from the centre. On the bezel there are just a couple of smaller pins missing.

The hinge, catch and catch button are fine and the bezel snaps shut correctly.

Francis Stamper, a Quaker of Lombard Street, London, was free of the Clockmaker’s Company in 1682 and died in 1690.

The inner case maker ‘s mark is that of John Harbert who was free of The Clockmakers’ Company in 1682.

The outer case maker’s mark is that of Uriah Berrington, of Fleet Street, who was free of The Clockmakers’ Company in 1684.

The outer case would have required a specialist in shell and pin work, so it is not unexpected to see different makers for the two cases. The dates recorded for Stamper and the two case makers would suggest a date of about 1685 for this watch.