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Lot Essay
Justin Francois Vulliamy (1712-1797) was born in the Pays de Vaud, Switzerland. In around 1730, he went to London to study Graham's cylinder escapement and joined the clockmaker Benjamin Gray at some time after 1738. He became Gray's partner in 1743 and in 1746 married Gray's daughter Mary.
In 1742, Gray was appointed Watchmaker in Ordinary to George II and Vulliamy continued in the role after Gray's death in 1764. The Royal Warrant which Gray held had been extended to the partnership in 1743 and indeed would be held by the next two generations of Vulliamys. The Royal Collection includes clocks by both the partnership and by Justin Vulliamy (see C. Jagger, Royal Clocks, 1983, pp.85-90).
A Vulliamy clock with identical case was sold in 'Important Clocks and Scientific Instruments from the Collection of the late Professor E.T.Hall C.B.E.', Christie's, London, 11 July 2003, lot 144. Another of this model was sold Christie's, New York, 23 April 1988, lot 23.
In 1742, Gray was appointed Watchmaker in Ordinary to George II and Vulliamy continued in the role after Gray's death in 1764. The Royal Warrant which Gray held had been extended to the partnership in 1743 and indeed would be held by the next two generations of Vulliamys. The Royal Collection includes clocks by both the partnership and by Justin Vulliamy (see C. Jagger, Royal Clocks, 1983, pp.85-90).
A Vulliamy clock with identical case was sold in 'Important Clocks and Scientific Instruments from the Collection of the late Professor E.T.Hall C.B.E.', Christie's, London, 11 July 2003, lot 144. Another of this model was sold Christie's, New York, 23 April 1988, lot 23.