Lot Essay
A closely related clock was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 8 July 1993, lot 6.
François Justin Vulliamy was born in Switzerland in 1712 in the Pays de Vaud, most probably from a family engaged in some aspect of horological manufacturing. He met Benjamin Gray in 1730 when he came to London from Paris in order to enlarge his horological experience, especially in relation to the cylinder escapement. The friendship led to a business partnership in 1743. François Justin Vulliamy married Gray's only daughter, Mary Gray, in 1746. From then on Vulliamy used the finest craftsmen available and this can be seen in a closely related three-train quarter-chiming balloon clock (in the Royal Collection) veneered in tortoiseshell and as richly mounted as this clock. It is interesting to note that in that case, the mounts and paw feet as well as the openwork panels, are probably the work of Matthew Boulton (1728-1809)
François Justin Vulliamy was born in Switzerland in 1712 in the Pays de Vaud, most probably from a family engaged in some aspect of horological manufacturing. He met Benjamin Gray in 1730 when he came to London from Paris in order to enlarge his horological experience, especially in relation to the cylinder escapement. The friendship led to a business partnership in 1743. François Justin Vulliamy married Gray's only daughter, Mary Gray, in 1746. From then on Vulliamy used the finest craftsmen available and this can be seen in a closely related three-train quarter-chiming balloon clock (in the Royal Collection) veneered in tortoiseshell and as richly mounted as this clock. It is interesting to note that in that case, the mounts and paw feet as well as the openwork panels, are probably the work of Matthew Boulton (1728-1809)