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拍品專文
Graham, George (1673-1751). Apprenticed to Henry Aske 1688 and freed 1695, started work for Thomas Tompion in 1696. In 1704 he married Tompion's niece, Elizabeth. He joined in partnership with Tompion 1711-1713, succeeding Tompion upon his death. Until 1720 he continued at the same premises, at the sign of the Dial and Three Crowns in Fleet Street, when he moved to the Dial and One Crown on the other side of the road. He was Warden of the Clockmakers' Company in 1719 and Master in 1722. Upon his death in 1751 he was buried in Tompion's grave in Westminster Abbey.
Known as 'Honest George', Graham's portrait by Hudson shows a smiling and approachable figure. The oft-told story of Graham's advice and unsecured loan to a youthful John Harrison would seem to bear out this generosity of spirit. However, it is for the excellence of his clock and watch making skills that Graham is most deservedly renowned. The possessor of an ingenious intellect, he invented the dead beat escapement and conceived the mercury pendulum. In 1715 he is accredited with constructing England's first planetarium. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1721 and joined its Council in 1722.
Graham continued Tompion's serial numbers and these show that he made just over 170 clocks, in contrast to several thousand watches. The clocks are numbered from 600 to 774 - the relatively low number on the present example (633) indicating that it was most likely made during the period 1725-30. This dial and movement bears all the features we expect of Graham. The dial is signed twice - both along its lower edge and on a central plaque - and of an elegant simplicity; the movement plates are thick and it is fully latched; the under-dial steel racks and brass cocks are all beautifully chamfered; the crutchpiece is elegantly formed and the escapement is to his own design.
Known as 'Honest George', Graham's portrait by Hudson shows a smiling and approachable figure. The oft-told story of Graham's advice and unsecured loan to a youthful John Harrison would seem to bear out this generosity of spirit. However, it is for the excellence of his clock and watch making skills that Graham is most deservedly renowned. The possessor of an ingenious intellect, he invented the dead beat escapement and conceived the mercury pendulum. In 1715 he is accredited with constructing England's first planetarium. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1721 and joined its Council in 1722.
Graham continued Tompion's serial numbers and these show that he made just over 170 clocks, in contrast to several thousand watches. The clocks are numbered from 600 to 774 - the relatively low number on the present example (633) indicating that it was most likely made during the period 1725-30. This dial and movement bears all the features we expect of Graham. The dial is signed twice - both along its lower edge and on a central plaque - and of an elegant simplicity; the movement plates are thick and it is fully latched; the under-dial steel racks and brass cocks are all beautifully chamfered; the crutchpiece is elegantly formed and the escapement is to his own design.