GEORGE GRAHAM, LONDON, NO. 615. CIRCA 1725

Details

A George II ebonised silver-mounted table timepiece with pull quarter repeat
George Graham, London, No. 615. Circa 1725
The case with foliate tied gilt-metal handle to the inverted belltop, breakarch glazed sides, the moulded base on block feet, the 5½ in. by 6½ in. rectangular brass dial signed Geo: Graham London at the top flanked by susidiary silvered rings for pendulum regulation with blued steel tulip hand, the opposing foliate engraved subsidiary ring for balance only, the main silvered chapter ring with Roman and Arabic numerals and diamond half hour markers, delicate pierced blued steel hands, the matted centre with mock pendulum aperture, silver foliate cast spandrels, latches for the dial feet secured to the front plate of the movement with six latched ringed pillars, single wire fusee movement, pivoted verge escapement, pull quarter repeat on Tompion's system via two blued steel interconnecting levers with double foliate engraved brass cocks, the hours struck on a large bell with the quarters on one smaller, the backplate signed Geo: Graham London and also punch-numbered 615 above within a wheatear-engraved oval within profuse foliate engraving inhabited with birds and centred at the bottom by a basket of fruit and further punch-numbered 615 at the base of the backplate
14 in. (35.5 cm.) high

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

George Graham, 1673-1751, was the son of a Quaker farmer from Cumberland. Whilst apprenticed to Henry Aske, 1688-95, he established a considerable name for himself and very soon afterwards began working for Thomas Tompion (1631-1713). In 1704 he married Tompion's niece Elizabeth and took over the company on Tompion's death.
Graham was reponsible for all manner of horological and scientific inventions such as the deadbeat escapement in 1715, the mercury pendulum in 1726 and the cylinder escapement for watches. All three inventions were still being used right up until the end of the 19th
Century.
The present clock is an interesting example being a timepiece rather than a two train clock. There are few known examples of Graham's timepieces, making them rarer - but still cheaper - than his striking clocks.

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