Lot Essay
IN 1720 JAMES MARKWICK JR. BECAME A MASTER CLOCKMAKER LOCATED NEAR THE ROYAL EXCHANGE IN LONDON. HE WENT INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH ROBERT MARKHAM, HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW, WHO, AFTER MARWICK'S DEATH IN 1730, CONTINUED THE BUSINESS AND CARRIED ON TRADING UNDER THE NAME MARKWICK MARKHAM.
WHEN MARKHAM DIED HE MUST HAVE LEFT A GOOD REPUTATION, AS THE COMPANY WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE AND MAKE USE OF THEIR NAME IN ORDER TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER WELL-KNOWN CLOCKMAKERS, SUCH AS HENRY BORRELL (1794-1840). THE PRESENT CLOCK WAS MADE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PERIGALS, A FAMILY OF CLOCKMAKERS OF GREAT REPUTE. (F.J. BRITTEN, OLD CLOCKS AND WATCHES & THEIR MAKERS, 1977, PP. 473 AND 483)
TOWARDS THE END OF THE 18TH CENTURY MARKWICK MARKHAM PRODUCED A LARGE NUMBER OF CLOCKS AND WATCHES FOR THE TURKISH MARKET. IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THE PRESENT CLOCK WAS ALSO MADE FOR THIS LUCRATIVE MARKET. ORIGINALLY IT MIGHT HAVE HAD A WHITE ENAMELLED DIAL WITH TURKISH CHAPTERS, WHICH WAS REPLACED FOR ONE WITH ARABIC NUMERALS TO MAKE IT MORE APPEALING TO THE EUROPEAN MARKET.
SEE ILLUSTRATION
WHEN MARKHAM DIED HE MUST HAVE LEFT A GOOD REPUTATION, AS THE COMPANY WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE AND MAKE USE OF THEIR NAME IN ORDER TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER WELL-KNOWN CLOCKMAKERS, SUCH AS HENRY BORRELL (1794-1840). THE PRESENT CLOCK WAS MADE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PERIGALS, A FAMILY OF CLOCKMAKERS OF GREAT REPUTE. (F.J. BRITTEN, OLD CLOCKS AND WATCHES & THEIR MAKERS, 1977, PP. 473 AND 483)
TOWARDS THE END OF THE 18TH CENTURY MARKWICK MARKHAM PRODUCED A LARGE NUMBER OF CLOCKS AND WATCHES FOR THE TURKISH MARKET. IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THE PRESENT CLOCK WAS ALSO MADE FOR THIS LUCRATIVE MARKET. ORIGINALLY IT MIGHT HAVE HAD A WHITE ENAMELLED DIAL WITH TURKISH CHAPTERS, WHICH WAS REPLACED FOR ONE WITH ARABIC NUMERALS TO MAKE IT MORE APPEALING TO THE EUROPEAN MARKET.
SEE ILLUSTRATION