JUSTIN VULLIAMY, LONDON. CIRCA 1770

Details

A George III mahogany longcase clock
Justin Vulliamy, London. Circa 1770
The case with raised rectangular panel to a double-skirted plinth, the rectangular trunk door flanked by stop-chamfered and brass-lined reeded angles, similar angles to the hood with architectural pediment, concave-moulded glazed door to the engraved silvered dial with Roman and Arabic chapter ring, signed Justin Vulliamy London, calendar aperture below, seconds ring above, (later?) pierced blued steel hands, the five pillar rack striking movement with anchor escapement; with later wood-rod pendulum
85in. (216cm.) 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

Vulliamy, Justin Francois (1712-1797) was born in the Pays de Vaud, Switzerland. He went to London (c.1730) 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 Cedric Jagger, Royal Clocks, Robert Hale Ltd, 1983, pp.85-90).

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